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THE GOOD GENIUS^^
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING
INTO GOLD
OR
THE QUEEN BEE AND THE MAGIC DEESS
% Ci^ristmas iPairo ^U
BT
THE BROTHERS MAYHEW^
WITH
ILLUSTRATIONS BY GEORGE CRUIKSHANK
LONDON
DAVID BOGUE 86 FLEET STREET
MDCCCXLVIl / ^V^
^^Hh2^'J'^^
IVAP^P
\«?
\
TO
EGBERT BAXTER POSTANS, ESQ.
Dear Bob,
As the subject of this little story arose out
of one of the many evenings' chats that we have
enjoyed with you, it is but right that to you it
should be dedicated ; and we do so with every
sentiment of esteem and regard, subscribing
ourselves
Your infallible friends,
Henry and Augustus Mayhew.
*v
Sfet of Kllunttattonn, ' ^ VV
■ >■ ^
DRAWN AND ETCHED BY GEORGE CRUIK8HANK. *' 'v
-It-
The Bee changes a Forest into a Fleet, FronHtfkc$^
' r
The Woodman Silvio sees the Bee fob the fibsk
time • r JdnjLi
The Bee summons up fbom the Eabth a Fountaik ' !*
■'■
OF Gold j^'
The Bee changes a Rock into a Palace .... 'tf
Vejez, " the silyeb-haibed," tobmbntbd bt the
Bee 63
King Silvio, with his Queen and Child, seek
refuge in a Cave 10}'^
AmABANTH, " THE EVBB-TOUNG," IS CABBIED TO COBAL-
LION BY THE Beb's MoNSTBB StEBD .... 175
Silvio seeks the Bee fob the last time . . . 187 1
2 THE GOOD GENIUS
a forest, at such an hour, wasn't exactly the place or
time for a body to take his rest in. Yet there the
young Woodman sat, as if he had got all the after-
noon before him; instead of which, the rising breeze
of Sun-down began to make the trees shiver again,
and the bright eye of Day was now fast getting
bloodshot with the coming cold of Night, while the
shadows of things had no longer the jolly plumpness
of Noon, but were long, and thin, and miserable-
looking, as though they were nipped and pinched
up Y^fix the growing chilliness of the evening air.
Why, then, does the man continue to sit there? —
why doesn't he go home? For see ! the sun is
flickering in the socket of the east; and as it is,
hell have barely light enough to find his way out
of the wood, which is thick and lonely enough,
Heaven knows! For there are nothing but trees —
trees — trees, as far as the eye can reach; and not
a curl of smoke is there to be seen, to tell that the
place is tenanted by any human being.
Why doesn't the man go home? One can't help
feeling an interest in the poor fellow; for there's
too little fat and too much muscle in his frame for
THAT TUBNED EVERYTHIMO INTO GOLD. 3
him to be an idler. Well! now, if he hasn't taken
an oaten cake out of his goat-skin surcoat, as if he
were going to make his supper in that lonesome
spot; and though he has nothing but a draught of
water from his leathern bottle to help it down with,
still he appears to prefer it to supping comfortablj
bj his fireside.
And now, as he sits munching, a Bee goes sing-
ing past him — meriy as though it had taken a
flower-cup too much — and seeming to say. How
pleasant it is to have a snug warm hive and a good
dish of honey to go to. The hint, though, is not
thrown away upon the Woodman, for now he ap-
proaches the hollow trunk the Bee has just entered,
and he is evidently going to borrow some of the
golden deposits from its little savings-bank.
And yet he seems to think twice about it, now he's
got there; for he says that he is but a human bee,
and since he has had his hive and little hoard of
honey taken from him, why should he make the
poor things as houseless and as destitute as himself?
** No,** he adds, " we are fellow labourers, and misery
has taught me mercy, even to such as you. So
B 2
4 THB GOOD GENIUS
honesty shall be the honej of mj meaL" And ha
returned empty-handed to the trunk, and sat down,
and finished his sorry feast.
But when he heard the birds begin to chirrup to
one another their '^ Good Nights," and saw the dark
clouds come stalking up from the distance, as though
it were the funeral procession of the departed Day —
and the green trees grow black and solid, and stand
out against the ashy sky, heavy and sad, as giant
mourners — and the dusky bat dart in and out of
the thickets, like a winged Imp of Night — and all
colour fade from the earth and the flowers, with the
thickening gloom — ^then the mist of Melancholy fell
upon his soul; and remembering that he had no home
to go to, the young Woodman shrouded his face with
his hands, and the tears oozed between his fingers.
CHAPTER 11.
Presently the Woodman was startled from his
grief by a cry of " Silvio! Silvi-o! Silvi-o-ol"
As one may readily suppose, he was not a little
surprised to hear himself hailed by his name in such
THAT TUBNBD EVEBTTHINO INTO GOLD. O
a woody desert; and more so, when, on looking
round, he could see no one, though the speaker
seemed quite close to him. And then he heard k
tlioiisand little voices call to him in chorus, as if the
air were filled with a whole host of invisible bosom
friends.
Again he looked around, and saw nothing; and
then again he heard his name uttered: but this time
there was a kind of a buzz about the pronunciation
of it, that directed his attention to a Bee that kept
hiunming round about him. Though when it lighted
on the stump of the tree he had felled, the little
creature appeared by the dim twilight to be no
longer a Bee in form, but to melt into a tiny winged
human figure, with a waist as small as a silkworm's
eggf and a fulness about the hind- breadths of her
skirt, as if the little being was indebted for the
elegance of her toumure to the aid of some thistle-
down "crinoline." And yet, on looking at her
again, the tiny creature was decidedly a Bee.
" Come, Master Silvio!" she hummed; " cheer
up! There's no seeing one's way through tears.
"Why, your eyes are as red as poppies I Now, what'a
6 TH£ GOOD GENIUS
the matter, eh? Friends^ jou know^ like mushroomfl,
spring up in out-of-the-way places; so tell me all
about it, and I may be of service to you, perhaps."
Silvio, astonished and alarmed at the appearance
of his extraordinary little questioner, made no reply,
but merely muttered a prayer against evil spirits.
'^Come! come!" continued the merry little Bee,
'^ I'm no wicked elf! You're mistaken in the cha-
racter, I can assure you. But you distrust xne,
because we haven't been formally introduoed.
Nevertheless, my intentions are perfectly honour-
able,, believe me, and you'll find that I belong to a
most respectable little family of fairies, when joq
know me better."
The good-humoured prattling of the Bee at length
gave the Woodman heart, though, still half suspi-
cious as to the designs of his elfin companion, but
fearful of offending her, he replied, that he had no
doubt she was a highly moral little sprite, but
"But you'd rather decline the honour of my
acquaintance," interrupted the Bee, putting into
plain language what the Woodman would have said,
only in more courteous terms. " I know you think
THAT TURNED EVEBTTHING INTO GOLD. 7
Fm as deceitful as those roguish Jack-o'-lanterns
who offer to light you through your difficulties, only
to lead 70U deeper into the mire. Now, on the
word and honour of a fairy, I mean what I say; so
let me hear what ails you; there can be no harm
in doing that, and, what*s more, it may turn to some
good-''
Silvio paused doubtingly for a second, and then,
seeming to think better of it, told the Bee that his
hut and little all had been washed away by the late
flood — that he was fatherless and friendless — that he
couldn't build another hut under a month, at least —
and that until then, the trees of the forest would be
the only shelter for his head. " But,'' added he, " I
have worked too long for my Uving to begin begging
now, and alms-seeking is too idle a trade for one
accustomed to hard labour, like me. Besides, it was
always a maxim with my poor old Father that's dead
and gone, and the first lesson he taught me was —
* It is better to live on the crust of your own in-
dustry than on the fruits of other people's.' "
"Ay, good Silvio!" returned the Bee, "I know you
don't like dipping your fingers into other people's
8 THE GOOD GENIUS
honey pots, so I have come to replenish your empty
jar. For you must know, Mr, Woodman, that smaH
as I am, and little as you seem to think of me, I am
no less a person than a powerful genius, doomed for
a term to wear the outward shape of a Bee. I am
the Queen of the hive that you spared, and am
anxious to reward you for it."
Silvio was beginning to apologize to her winged
little majesty for his unjust suspicions, when she
stopped him short by adding —
"There, don't mention a word about that I We
have granted you our royal pardon long ago; so, as
I was going to say, I intend to be your good genius
through life, and will supply you with whatever
you may desire. But mind! on this condition — ^that
you always solicit my aid in the fields at sunrise,
and in the same rough goat-skin dress as you now
wear. So you must be very careful of it; for re-
member! whoever wants my assistance must come in
that humble garb, and no other. And, as an espe-
cial favour, I will grant you your first wish this
evening. Now, what shall it be, eh?"
Silvio, who had no longer any doubts as to the
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. »
intentions of his little companion, thanked her Fairy-
ship for what she proffered, and said that he merely
desired to have his hut restored the same as before
the flood.
"Nothing else!" exclaimed the Bee, astonished
at so modest a wish. "What! no money! — not
even a few pieces of gold to begin the world with
anew!"
" No, I thank you!*' returned Silvio; " I have as
much in my pouch as my simple wants require.
Give me but my hut again, and I will leave the
cares of wealth to those who covet it."
"Ha! ha! ha!'* hummingly chuckled the Fairy;
"you gentlemen of clay are funny people. You
always aspire to very little at first, but as you mount
the ladder, you are sure to look down upon what
you formerly looked up to as the height of happiness.
And youll find, Mr. Silvio, that it will soon be
very different with you, when you discover what
a good banker you've got in me. Indeed, I
shouldn't be astonished if, in a year or two, you
were to come to me, and wonder how you could
ever have managed to live as a woodman, and de-
10 THE GOOD OEMIUS
clare that you must die unless I help jou to many
a princess."
Silvio derided the idea, and thanked his stars that
he knew himself too well ever to arrive at such a
state of mind as that.
" Of course! of course! — the old story !** cried
the Bee. " You men are always boasting that you
know yourselves so well, when the fact is, you
seldom or never get beyond a mere bowing acquaint-
ance. But I must be flying; for I declare there's
the evening star, and it's time for every respectable
Bee to be in her cell. So, good night. Master
Silvio! you'll find your hut all ready for you in the
morning; and don't forget what I told you about
the princess. I shall be sure to see you again
shortly; so, once more, good night!"
The sprightly little Bee went buzzing off to her
hive, and Silvio, making himself a bed among the
leaves of the fallen tree, soon slept happily and
soundly.
THAT TURNED EVESTTHIIIO INTO GOLD. 11
CHAPTER in.
AuBOBA had just begun to light her fire in the grate
of the East, and the old sun was still snug under
the blankets of the horizon, when Silvio was roused
from his slumbers bj the early morning cries of the
birds, who seemed to be shouting at the top of their
voices, '^ All a blowing! all a blowing! sweet spring
flowers!" while, every now and then, a hook-nosed
old crow went croaking by, as if it were crying
" Clo! clo! clo!" to such of the feathered tribe as had
recently moulted.
Having rubbed his eyes open, the first object that
met the Woodman's sight, was a ringlet of white
smoke curling through the dark green trees; and as
the air grew more and more transparent and pinky
with the light of the young day, he could distinguish
a small grey hut set in the distant black and massive
foliage of the wood.
Silvio was convinced that no hut stood there last
night; and though his yester-evening's interview
12 THE GOOD GENIUS
with the Bee seemed to him like a dream, still the
appearance of a dwelling in the very direction of his
late residence gave his adventure an air of reality
that thoroughly confounded the poor Woodman.
But even if it were his hut, how could the smoke
come there? That was what he wanted to know!
So off he went, determined to look into the matter.
But, when he reached the spot, the affair was
nearly as great a mystery to him as before. For
there was his hut, built of the same unbarked tim-
ber — with his name carved on the lintel — and the
identical old horse-shoe, to keep away evil spirits^
nailed up just above it — and there was the dappled
goat with her kids nibbling the shoots of the young
trees — and there were the rushes strewed over the
floor — ^yes! and there was the skin of the white wolf
he killed when he was a mere lad, in its proper comer,
just as if he had slept on it last night — and there were
the hunting spears of his late father hanging over
the mantel-piece on their wooden pegs, as usual; —
in fact, there was everything just the same as before
the flood — only the horse-shoe was cleaner — the
rushes were fresher — the wolf-skin was whiter—^
THAT TUENED EVEETTHING INTO GOLD. 13
the spears were brighter — and the whole hut was
newer than when it was washed away.
So that it was now clear that his last night's adven-
ture was no dream after all, and that the meny little
Bee had been as good as her word. Aj! that she
had, and better too! — for she had piled up. the
burning logs on the hearth, and provided a kid-
cutlet, and a dish of rice, reeking hot, for the Wood-
man's morning meal.
Silvio had long finished his repast, and was still
wonderingly examining all the contents of his new
abode, when he heard the sounds of voices without.
Qu looking through the lattice, he saw a litter,
borne by four blacks, advancing towards his hut;
and then, to his surprise, he beheld a female, closely
veiled, alight at his door.
Bidding her attendants wait in the wood, the
Lady inquired, as she entered the hut, where she
could meet with one Silvio, a woodman?
Amazed, Silvio informed her that he whom she
80aght then bowed before her.
« You Silvio I" exclahned the Lady. " Why, I
heard that your hut had been destroyed by the late
14 THE GOOD GENIUS
heavy floods; and so, as it was the Minor Festiral
of the Month of Abstinence, I had come to distribute
ahns to you among the rest of the poor sufferers.''
Silvio, who had thought, from the sylph-like
form of the veiled stranger, that he was visited
by another fairy, now plainly perceived that his
fair guest was one of those kind-hearted daughters
of Affluence, who, at that season of the year, made
it their duty to share the comforts of their more for-
tunate lot with their less prosperous brethren. So.
thanking the Lady, he informed her that he stood in
need of no assistance, and begged that she would
give his portion of her bounty to the heaviest loser
by the late calamity.
"Your goodness, Master Silvio," replied his veiled
visitor, in a voice that made the heart-strings of the
Woodman thrill again with its melody, " seems as
great as your industry; for you must have worked
night and day to get so nice a cot as this up again
in so short a time! Ay! and it must have run
away with a good part of your savings, too ! So, pray
now, do let me replenish your little store."
Silvio again thanked, and again refused the bounty
THAT TUKNED EVERT THING INTO GOLD. 15
of the Lady, adding, that to receive alms without
needing them, was to cheat the charitable and to
rob the poor.
The Lady looked with admiration on the Wood-
man's sun-browned face, and read in his large lustrous
eyes — ^black as beads of jet — ^the same honest expres-
sion as had just fallen from his lips — which, she now
for the first time noticed, were red and slender as
the fruit of the Chilli plant. And when Silvio
begged his fair guest to partake of a sweet cake and
a draught of goat's milk, she, loth to leave thus
soon one whose honesty had so charmed her, readily
consented; and the Woodman quickly spread his
humble fare before her.
The Lady, unaccustomed to so rude a shelter
from the morning air, drew near to the fire, and
requested the Woodman to shut the door.
" The door is shut, may it please you, gentle
Tlady," Silvio returned.
" Lideed !" exclaimed the fair stranger ; " then
how the wind must come in here, to be sure ! I
wonder you don't catch your death of cold in such
a diunp place! It would kill me in a week«"
16 THE GOOD GENIUS
" Why, you see, my good Lady," responded the stal-
wart proprietor of the hut, " Use, as the adage says,
is a kind of second nature to a body; and as I have
lived here all my days — and so indeed my father did
for eighty odd years before me — I suppose I must
be proof against it."
" I dare say!" replied the Lady. " Your stout
frame must be seasoned to all weathers; whilst, you
see, I'm such a poor chilly mortal, that I can't sit
here without fancying I feel an ague pouring in at
every crevice. But you, hardy wild flowers of the
wood, thrive in the breeze that nips up us, weakly
exotics of the city."
" But see, good Lady, how you Roses are beauti-
fied by care," said Silvio.
The fair stranger blushed damask beneath her
veil, at the simple flattery of the Woodman, and
promising to visit him again at the next festival,
summoned her dark attendants, and departed.
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 17
CHAPTER IV.
As soon as Silvio had lost sight of the receding
litter, he returned to his fireside, and began think-
ing how kind it was of the Ladj to have wished to
relieve him among the rest; and what an exquisitely
sweet voice she had; and whether she was as beau^-
tiful as he fancied her to be; and what a shame it
was that ladies should be obliged to be always veiled !
He was sorry, though, the poor thing should have
been annoyed by the draughts! And yet he couldn't
make out where they could come from either. So,
'taking a lighted branch, he held it to the seams of
the timbers, when he was surprised to see the
flame bend down as if cowering before the cold air,
and discovered, for the first time, that ^' the wind did
come in dreadfully!"
"Yet it was very strange," he silently solilo-
quized, " he had never noticed it before. It couldn't
be the fault of the new hut, for it was as like his
old one as one blade of grass was to another. Cer-
tainly the weather had been getting colder and
c
i
IS THE GOOD GENIUS
colder of late, and perhaps he'd taken a chill with
the flood. But, whatever it was, it was very evi-
dent there was a small hurricane rushing in edge-
ways through every cranny, and his hut seemed to
be the house-of-call for all the vagabond winds; for
he could feel them come whizzing by his ears on
their way to warm themselves at the fire, as cutting
as razors. So he wrapped his wolTs-skin round
his shoulders, satisfied that there wasn't a plank in
the whole house that didn't leak rheumatisms and
catarrhs. But he wasn't going to shiver out his
days in an air- sieve like that! So he would go in
the morning and get his friend the Bee just to do the
place up for him a little better inside."
Silvio was out in the fields, in his goat-skin
dress, long before the time the Bee had appointed
for his morning calls; and as soon as he saw the Sun
poke his flaxen head through the crimson curtains
of the eastern sky, he summoned the Queen Bee, and
instantly she came humming towards him.
" Good morrow !" she buzzed. " I hope you
found your hut comfortable, Master Silvio. "
" Oh, yes! very nice and comfortable indeed,
thoDk jrou r replied the Woodmoa-, "but **
THAT TURNED EVEBTTHIN6 INTO GOLD. 19
'^ There you are, with those nasty dissatisfied
*buts' again! So, of course, you've got everything
you want, but — ^you'd like something else," good-
humouredly observed the little Bee. " I thought you
were to live so happy and contented if you only had
your hut again. But I told you how it would be
when you found you could get what you wished."
" No — Tm sure — it's not that," hemmed and
hawed Silvio; "only you've no idea how damp the
flood has left the ground in these parts; and I re-
collect hearing Mother say that Grandfather once
had a touch of the rheumatism. Besides — whether
it's from sleeping out in the wood, or not, I can't say
— ^but, do you know, I fancy I've got a twinge of
Grandfather's complaint in my left elbow, here!"
" Ah, I see!" ironically rejoined the Bee, with a
grave medical air, " pulse feverish, and severe
growing pains in the little finger. There's some-
thing wrong, too, about the inside— of your hut," she
added. " Well! we'll soon prescribe for you. You
must go to bed early, and we'll send you a little
paint and plaster that will set you all to rights by
die time you get up in the morning."
c 2
20 THE GOOD GENIUS
Silvio, who thought that the subject wasn't exactly
a fit one for jesting upon, nevertheless managed to
strain his lips into a smile as the Bee continued —
" And I think, do you know, I should advise, in
your present state, a nice easy seat, with a soil
cushion — to be well shaken before taken — ^in case
another young lady should call, for, you see, I'm
aware one has been with you already. Besides, if
the Princess I spoke about was to pay you a visit,
what would you do without it ?"
"Prin-cc**/" pettishly exclaimed the Woodman;
" I should as soon expect to see a fleet of ships at
anchor in the wood here."
" There, now, you needn't be angry. Master Sil-
vio!" replied the good-humoured little Queen of the
Bees; " for if you get so warm about it, you might
get a chill when you go back to your cold hut again,
and that would do your rheumatism no good, you
know. However, I won't forget the decorations for
you. I hope you will be better next time I see you,
Mister Woodman — so, good bye!"
And away the merry little monarch flew, without
stopping to listen to the thanks of the grateful Silvio.
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO OOLD. 21
CHAPTER V.
On the morrow Silvio found the interior of his hut
precisely as he had desired. " Now," said he, " I
am content."
And so he was for about a week, when the rainy
season beginning to set in, he was forced to remain
longer in-doors than usual; and having little to do
there, he began to pick all kinds of imaginary holes
in his dwelling.
First, the door kept flying open, and the rain
kept coming in; and the windows kept rattling as
if they were shaking with the cold; and he couldn't
sleep at night for the noise of them (for he hadn't
his usual heavy day's work then to tire him) and
then the damp broke out in large mildewy blotches on
the newly-plastered walls; and then, again, though
he nailed a strip of hide round the door, still the
rush wick of his evening l^mp gave a light as un-
steady as that of a Will-o'-the-wisp; and the flame,
instead of burning straight up towards the roof^
22 THE GOOD GENIUS
kept continually flaring sideways to the chimney.
And besides, who could tell that the rain might not
cause another flood? So that how stupid it was of
him, whilst he was about it, not to have had his
hut built farther away from the river! and then the
stream might have indulged itself with an overflow
twice a year, as far as he was concerned.
However, it was useless to continue patching and
cobbling up a hovel like that! So he would go and
see the Bee, and, to save all farther trouble, just get
her to run him up a nice snug little stone cottage
at once.
The first fine morning, Silvio sought his fairy
friend; and after putting as great a show of reason
as he could upon his complaints, hinted that he
should like a more comfortable dwelling-place.
" Ah ! " said the little Bee, smiling, when she
heard what the Woodman desired; "I see what it
is! The hut is not good enough for you now!"
"Oh, no!" replied Silvio, "it's not that, 'l can
assure you! It's a very nice place, and I like it
exceedingly — if it'g^,only because it has been in the
family so long."
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 23
" Yes! you like it so much that you wish to leave
it," returned her Highness of the hive. " Well!
and where shall your new residence be situate? "
Silyio said that he should prefer it a little way
up the side of one of the mountains, that bordered
the lake at the outskirts of the forest. '^ And
there," added he, " I shall be as happy as a King! "
" You had better have a Palace, and be as miser-
able as a King at once," retorted the Bee.
" You misunderstand me, believe me!" said Silvio.
" I have no lust for the gilded vanities of the world.
Give me just enough to satisfy my humble desires,
and I live the life of content."
" Enough! " echoed his good little genius. " Do
you see that horizon, friend? Behold! it girds in
all your prospects like a silver zone. Well! you
seek to reach it, and as you toil on, the farther
you advance the farther it recedes. But still it is
the haven of your heart; so, still you progress, and
still yV)u are no nearer to your promised resting-
place than when first you set out. And yet what a
distance have you travelled from the objects that
originally enticed you on! See, too! as you look
24 THE GOOD GENIUS
back, how small appear all those things that seemed
so grand when but a little way removed from your
grasp. So that, for what you have gained after all,
you might as well have rested where you started.
Friend! such a fleeting horizon is that fancied
boundary to one's wishes which Man calls "Enough!"
and such a course of fruitless toil is Man's pursuit
of it I"
" Ay," replied the Woodman, still thoroughly
satisfied of the contentedness of his disposition,
*^ there's no doubt that that * enough ' is the wild-
goose-chase of most men's lives. But, thank Heaven!
I'm not quite such a child as to go panting after the
butterfly Ambition."
"Well, we shall see! — ^we shall see!" said the
Bee. " I will build you the cottage you ask,
though, if I am not mistaken, it will only be laying
the flrst stone of the palace. But time flies! and
so must I; for my little winged subjects are very
busv to-day."
So off her tiny Majesty whirled, leaving Silvio
to go pondering home upon her words.
THAT TUSNED EVESTTHING INTO GOLD. 25
CHAPTER VI.
Silvio was restless all night with the thoughts of
his new house, and ran over to the chosen spot as
soon as it was light the next morning.
And when he saw the little cot, white as an ^ri-
can's teeth, bossing the green mountain's side; and
the narrow brown path winding up to it through
the well-stocked vineyard, with the broad-leafed
vines bowing to the earth under their purple loads;
and the cool lake beneath, bright as a breast-plate,
and toying with the breeze, and dyed emerald at
its margin with the verdure of the hills it bathed, as
if their hues had run liquid into the pool — when the
Woodman saw this, he exclaimed, " The Bee may
gibe as she will, but now she shall find that I have
enough!"
Nor did the inside of the cot delight him less than
the out. Though, if he had a fault to find, it was
that the furniture seemed almost too good for a man
of his simple habits. The seats were so much easier
26 THE GOOD GENIUS
than those he had been accustomed to, that he was
afraid he should feel loth to leave them; and the
couch was so much softer than the white wolf-skin
he had usually slept upon, that he feared it would
entice him to take an extra nap of a morning. How-
ever, the Bee had done it all in good part, and he
would rather put up with the inconvenience than
trouble the Httle thing again.
And when, in a daj or two, Silvio returned to
his hut to remove such articles as he thought would
not be out of character with his new abode, though
he felt some little sorrow at leaving the scene of his
boyhood, still he could not help wondering how he
could ever have lived in so rude a place for so long
a time.
" Nevertheless," as he said to himself, in one of
his evening musings, when he was regularly settled
in his new quarters — " nevertheless, he liked the
idea of that roguish little Bee — just because he'd no
wish to catch his death of cold in that ice-house of a
hut — ^laughing at him when he told her he should be
as happy as a King in a place that was wind-and-
water-proof, and wanting to put him into a Palace
THAT TUENED EVEETTHING I|JTO GOLD. 27
instead. Ah! he should just like her to see him
now, coming home of an evening, after a hard day's
work in the wood or the vineyard, and sitting down
and enjoying his pipe, so cosy, by his snug and
warm fireside! and then say if what he had told
her wasn't true."
Yes! it was so true, and time flew along so swiftly
with the happy Woodman, that he hardly knew a
year had slipped by, until he remembered that it
wanted but a few days to the festival, when the
Lady was again to visit him. How surprised she
would be to find him there! She wouldn't complain
of the draughts in that little box, he knew ! And
then he recollected that she would be going to the
hut, and find no one in it; so he would run across
and meet her, and get her to come over to his new
house, and see how he had got on. And as the poor
thing would be likely to want some refreshment after
her morning ride, he would just get something nicer
than goat's milk for her this time, for he noticed
that she didn't seem to relish that much when she
was with him last year; besides it was plain to see
that she was accustomed to better thin^, H&
28 THE GOOD GENIUS
hardly knew, though, how he was ever to manage
it either; for he had only a few pieces remaining in
his pouch. However, he would go and see his little
fairy friend once more, and he had no doubt she
would oblige him, especially as he should have no
occasion to trouble her again.
" Why, Master Silvio/' cried the little Bee, as
she flew towards the Woodman, in answer to his
summons the next morning — " why, I thought the
rheumatism had carried you off, I haven't seen you
for such a long time! Do you mean to say you
haven't wanted anything for a whole year? Well!
you are a pattern of contentedness!"
"Ah!" said Silvio, with an air of triumph, "I
thought I knew myself better than you did! I told
you that if you gave me the cottage, I shouldn't
desire anytHng else."
" Oh, yes, I remember!" slily returned the little
Fairy; " and what do you desire now?"
" Why, the fact is," replied Silvio, " I've a young
lady coming to see me."
" A young lady coming to see you!" answered
the Bee. " What! the Princess, eh?
THAT TURNED EVEETTHING INTO GOLD. 29
"No, no!" peevishly exclaimed Silvio. "You're
always pestering me about that Princess. 1 tell you
it's that kind young Lady that visited me last year
in the wood; so I think I ought to prepare a little
feast for her reception-for she was very good to
me, I'm sure — ^but as I haven't gjot exactly money
enough to do it as I should like, I've just come to ask
you if you could let me have a little gold for the
occasion."
"What! you want some * filthy lucre,' eh?" said
the Bee, sarcastically. " Why, I thought you had
no lust for the gilded vanities of the world!"
"Nor have I," replied the Woodman; " still I
don't mean to say that I'm proof against its iron
necessities, either."
" And so you've found out," added her apine
Majesty, " that Master Mammon is not quite so
dirty a gentleman as he is painted. Now, I will
tell you a short story.
" A great King had a Slave, so cunning in all
things, that there was nothing the King wished
for, that the Slave did not procure. And when he
found how faithful a servant he was^ the M<^tAs^V
30 THE GOOD GENIUS
grew to love him more and more, and at last freed
him from his servitude, and took him to his bosom
as his best of friends. Nor did the Sovereign's
love grow weak as his hair grew grey; so that,
at length, tired of the cares of monarchy, he gave
up his empire to ^is former bondsman. But when
the Slave was made the King, he was no longer the
useful friend of his late master; but, turning tyrant,
he cast the Monarch into chains, and made the King
the Slave. Now what think you, friend, was the
name of the Slave? It was — Gold! the best of ser-
vants, and the worst of masters.
" So you shall have the gold. Master Silvio, but
remember my story of the King and the Slave."
And then the fairy little Bee flew round and
round about where Silvio stood, humming the
following charm: —
" Elves of the Mines !
Elves of the Ore!
Give up your treasure !
Give up your store!
Make the earth stream
With riches untold !
Open each vein,
And let it gush gold!"
Instiintiy a spring of molten g
came bubbling up from the earth, "
and riHing higher and higher, grew
into on amber fountain, glittering in the light likg'^
a liquid sunbeam, and dropping pieces of maYA'^J
32 THB GOOD GENIUS
which t'nkled against each other as they fell, sweetly
as the bells of the distant camel; while the treasure
poured down the green sides of the hillock, from
which it flowed like a stream of yellow lava, and the
earth around was gorgeous with wealth.
Silvio, dazzled with the magnificence of the scene,
filled his pouch, and bidding adieu to the winged
little magician, departed homewards.
CHAPTER VII.
True to her promise, the Lady sought the Wood-
man's hut, which was now a mere ruin, for time, and
the weather, assisted by occasional stragglers from
the neighbouring village, had stripped it of its former
neatness, and every moveable article besides. The
door had been carried off, an<f had gone the way of
all wood; and, as the Lady entered, a large owl flew
hooting past her, scared from its hermitage by the
sight of a human being. The rushes which covered
the floor were pappy, and nearly white with the wet
which had leaked through the roof and ran down
the walls, striping them with long black marks of
THAT TURNED BYEKYTHING INTO GOLD. 33
its course ; and here and there on the ground lay
large cakes of plaster, which had fallen from the
sides of the hut, leaving great ulcerous wounds,
through which the laths were visible; while upon
the hearth— on which there still remained a half-
burnt log — ^lankand sickly-looking weeds had sprung
up between the stones. In one comer, too, stood a
broken water-pitcher, whilst in another there was a
rank animal stench, and a few well-gnawed bones,
as if some beast of prey had but lately quitted it.
The desolate state of the hut made the Lady grow
melancholy, for she feared that the honest Wood-
man must have perished in the forest; or perhaps he
had caught a fever from living in so damp a place^*
and had died — alone! Then she remembered how
he had boasted that Use had hardened him to*
the cold and the wet, and how, at the time, she
fancied his stalwart handsome form so fully bore it
out; while she wished that she had come to see her
poor " wild flower" two or three months before, as^
she had half a mind to have done. And then upbraid-
ing herself for not having done so, and sorroTving
over the fate of one, whose nobility of dispositioT^.^^^
34 THE GOOD GENIUS
interested her so deeply, she 6tepped from the hut
to summon her dozing attendants.
But scarcely had she passed the threshold when
Silvio, who had espied the slaves and the litter from
some distance on his road, came hurrying towards
the Lady; and finding that she had been grieving
over his fancied loss, humbly thanked her for her
compassion* Then telling her of the change which
had occurred in his circumstances since last he saw
her, he begged of her to accompany him to his new
abode, and partake of a small repast which he had
prepared for her reception; adding, in his simple
way, that she need not be afraid of suffering from
the draughts there.
Pleased with his remembrance, the Lady replied,
that, since he had put himself to so much trouble on
her account, it would be ungracious of her to refuse.
And so saying, she roused the bearers of her litter,
and followed the Woodman to his cottage on the
mountain side.
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 35
CHAPTER VIIL
The simple beauty and rustic comfort of Silvio's
cottage won from the ladj many a word of delight
and congratulation. But when she saw the feast
he had prepared for her, she gently reproved him;
for she feared lest, on her account, he might have
dipped deeper into his little store than prudence
would have dictated.
And verily the Woodman had profited by the
Bee's moral lecture so far that he had taken good
care the gold should not become his master; for he
had got rid of " the best of servants," and provided
himself with all the delicacies of the season in its
• stead. There was lamb stewed with apricots,
peaches, and jujubes; and there were fowls stuffed
with pistachio nuts and raisins, and gourds filled
with rice and mincemeat; there were dried fruits too,
and sweetmeats of every description; and perfumed
waters, redolent of roses and orange-fiowers, and
bowls of sweet drinks besides, flavoured with con-
d2
36 THE GOOD GENIUS
serves of violets and mulberries; and then there was
the juicj water-melon and the luscious banana, and
the wine-coloured pomegranate, and grapes, like
clusters of large amethysts ; and, further, there were
capacious vases, fragrant with the flowers of sweet-
scented myrtle, and the almond-tree, and wild thyme,
and jasmine.
SUvio, having poured water on the hands of the
Lady, himself waited on her, tempting her with the
different dishes, which, according to custom, he
tasted previous to her partaking of them. And
when the feast was ended, the Woodman again
poured water over the hands of his fair guest, and
having sprinkled her with perfumes, he wafted to-
wards her the incense of the odoriferous aloes- wood.
" Indeed," said the Lady, rising and approaching
the casement, to contemplate the lake, which, sur-
rounded by the mountains, now sparkled in the sun,
like a diamond set among emeralds — *•' indeed.
Master Silvio, this must be far pleasanter than
living in the damp woods. Embedded in all this
beauty, you ought to be as happy as the day is long.
Though you must find it lonesome without any one
THAT TURNED KVEEYTHINO INTO GOLD. 37
to share it with you; for to me, half the beautj of
Beauty is the desire it always gives us to make
others as happy with it as ourselves. I should have
thought you would have been too generous to have
kept it all to yourself so long.'*
Silvio replied that it certainly was a pretty little
nook of the earth, and that he was glad the Lady
was so pleased with the place. And then he asked
her how she would like to live there all her days.
" Why," returned the Lady, " that would be
making my visit rather too long. Besides, the
mode of life would be so different from what I've
been accustomed to, that I'm afraid, as soon as the
scenery had lost the bloom of its novelty, I should
find that my habits but ill-accorded with so humble
a lot. The romantic tales of the story-tellers.
Master Silvio, sound very pleasant to the ear, though
I fear they would not prove quite so agreeable in
the practice. And do you not know the sage's
parable about Romance and Reality? No! then I
will tell it you." And the Lady related as fol-
lows: —
** Of all the genii, the bright-eyed B.w£i"ajaa^ ^^^
38 THE GOOD GENIUS
the most beautifuh But she was doomed to visit
men only in their dreams; so, sighing to take up
her abode on the earth, she prayed the Prophet
that she, instead of plain Reality, might rule the
world. The Prophet besought Allah, and He con-
sented. Then Romance, reaching forth her horn
of pleasing visions, poured out a rainbow stream of
flowers, and instantly the whole earth became as a
garden. Then Labour laid him down to rest, and
nothing but Beauty bloomed in the land. Delight
danced through the veins of all. But Beauty feeds
not life, and soon men seeking bread found only
flowers. Then Delight gave way to Misery, and
white-faced "Want went stalking through the
wretched Paradise. So, when the Prophet saw
what a gorgeous cheat was the ruling of Romance,
he sent sober-minded Truth to root up the fruitless
flowers, and to teach mankind the cares that ensue
when Romance becomes Reality.
*' And, I fear. Master Silvio,*' added the Lady,
" that though your pretty little cottage appears a
palace in romance, it would prove only a cottage
in reality.''
THAT TUKIfED EVEEyTHINO INTO GOLD. 39
" But Love," replied Silvio, with wanntb, " seeks
not for palaces."
" Love! " echoed his fair visitor.
"Yes," returned the impassioned Woodman,
" Love, gentle Lady! — Love born of your pity, and
which till now I dreamt was Gratitude! But your
Soft words have woke up my dormant heart to a
new life — a life which without you must be a brief
and dreary pilgrimage. For now I find that while
you were teaching me to thank you, I, alas! only
learned to love you."
" You love me ! " responded the Lady, haughtily
— " yoUf the Woodman Silvio, dare to love me, the
Princess Amaranth! Were my father the King to
know this, your presumption would cost you your
head. Summon my attendants, sirrah! "
Then hastening to her litter, the Princess was
soon out of sight of the cottage and the amazed and
miserable Woodman.
40 THB GOOD GENIUS
CHAPTER IX
Silvio, when he found he had placed his affections
in a quarter where he was more likely to lose a
head than gain a hand, and had fallen in love in
earnest with a ladj of precisely the same quality
as the Bee had, in jest, allotted him, grew pensive
and melancholy. He was no longer to be heard
singing over his work in the woods, but went sigh-
ing about the forest as if his lungs were the safety-
valve to his heart. Nor was his appetite much
improved under the circumstances; for Love always
reduces the household expenses of a gentleman
before marriage, though he takes good care, by way
of set-off, to add to them pretty considerably after-
wards. The Woodman took his sleep, too, by
small instalments of forty winks at a time; and then
he dreamt that he was about to be launched into
matrimony with the Princess, while the priest that
officiated at the ceremony was dressed as an execu-
THAT TURNED EVEBTTHtNO INTO GOLD. 41
tioner, and kept jumbling the funeral and marriage
services together.
By and by, the "Woodman grew disgusted with
the cottage, and didn't think it safe to trust himself
in the neighbourhood of so inviting a piece of water.
So he went over to the city of Corallion, of which
the Princess's father was King, and took a small
lodging in the vicinity of the palace, that he might
treat his eyes to an occasional glimpse of his
lady-love, even though it were at the expense of
his head.
At length, tired of sighing in secret, and hard-
ened by d^pair against the banterings of the little
Bee, he determined on seeking his fairy friend;
and rising betimes the morning after, he jour-
neyed some distance from the city to meet her
Majesty.
« Why, Master Silvio," hummed the little Bee,
answering the Woodman's summons — " why, how
pale and miserable you look ! What's the matter,
eh? You haven't lost all your filthy lucre, have
you?"
** No !" returned Silvio ; " that would not have
42 THE GOOD GENIUS
taken the colour out of my cheeks. I have lost what
I can never replace."
> " Dear me !" exclaimed the merry little monarch,
in a tone of assumed compassion; " your house can't
have heen washed away hy the floods again?"
"No! no!" replied the Woodman, petulantly;
" would it were no worse ! That you might have
restored to me, but this is beyond your magic."
" What !" said the Bee, in a confidential buzz;
" you never mean to say you gave that young
lady a feast and your heart at the same time ?"
"Yes!" answered Silvio; **Igave her what she
had made her own, and would gladly give her what
is now a burthen to me — my life."
" How you men do go on, to be sure I" ejaculated
her tiny Majesty. "But tell me! who is the lady? —
Respectable, I hope!"
" She is the Princess Amaranth, sumamed * The
Ever-young,' " passionately returned the Woodman.
" What, a Princess !" chuckled the Bee. " There
now! wasn't I right ? And of course you have come,
as I said you would, to ask my aid, to enable you tp
marry her?"
THAT TURNED EVEEYTHING INTO GOLD, 43
** I have! I have!'* exclaimed Silvio, with all the
ardour of a gentleman afflicted with his first love.
" Show me the way to win her, and I am "
" Of course !" interrupted the Queen of the hive.
" But your lover's promises are the most fragile of
all pastry. What you seek of me, though, Master
Silvio, is more than I have power to grant. I can
only execute the means which you yourself must
devise."
" Then give me a Palace," cried Silvio, " and let
the riches of the Prince hlot out the poverty of the
Woodman !"
" There," said the little fairy, " what a deal of
trouble you would have saved yourself and me, if
you had only let me have built you one when I
wanted ! Well! and how much money ? — or, I beg
your pardon, how many of * the gilded vanities' will
you have ?"
The Woodman paused, in doubt as to the exact
amount of specie it would require to maintain the
dignity of a station with whose expense he was
thoroughly unacquainted; and then asked the Bee,
with a natural simplicity, if she would think %,
ihonsand pieces too many ?
'•^ THE GOOD GENIUS
** Too many!" laughed the winged little monarch;
** whj, in a palace you would be penniless in a week!
^<«ne! you had better have twenty thousand just to
begin with."
** Twenty thousand pieces !" mused Silvio, as if
1» thought that the appraised value of everything in
the world was considerably under that sum.
** And where shall the residence of Prince Silvio
be situate?" inquired the tiny sovereign.
The Woodman smiled at the pleasing sound of his
new title, and replied that, " if he had his wish, that
marble rock should be his palace."
** Be it so !" returned the fairy ; and then she
Hew round and round, as she before had done, mur-
muring her magic spell —
" Work away ! work away! Bees, work away !
Mould the hard marble as if it were clay ;
Melt into symmetry each snowy block,
'Till a white palace springs out of a rock."
In an instant the air became black with a cloud
of bees, flying towards the appointed work, and
immediately began the busy hum of myriads of
winged labourers. Then was heard the clinking of a
thousand fairy chisels, and the grating of a thousand
THAT TURNED EVEBTTHING INTO GOLD. 45
fairy saws; and every now and then the air re-
sounded with repeated explosions, and large masses
of stone fell with a crash that shook the earth;
while dense white clouds of smoke rose from below,
spreading as they ascended, until all was hidden by
the vapour as if beneath a veil; and as the wind
blew it on one side, the jagged outlines of the rock
were no longer visible, but seemed to have melted
into cunningly-carved sculptures. Then a stone
pillar shot up as if it were the petrified stem of
the tree whose place it had taken; and long rows
of windows pierced the marble walls. Then a gilded
dome swelled out from the centre of the roof, like
a mighty bubble of burnished gold; and, of a sudden,
the whole edifice grew white and smooth as mother-
of-pearl, and glittered like an iceberg in the sun.
Shortly the hum gradually ceased, and the air be-
came black again with the departing swarm ; and
lo ! a fairy palace and its gardens stood where, a
little while back, a rugged rock and a wild had been.
46 THE GOOD GENIUS
CHAPTER X.
When Silvio arrived at the palace he found a retinue
of attendants waiting to receive him; and as he
walked on they kissed the ground before him, and
cried, " Peace be unto Prince Silvio!"
And when he entered the halls he perceived the
floors were inlaid with many-coloured marbles, and
gorgeous as if they were paved with flowers; while
the ceilings were of the richest woods, bossed with
clusters of carved fruit, and figured with cunning
carpentry, with here and there a plate of burnished
gold. The steps leading to the different cham-
bers were of alabaster; and the doors were some of
saiidal-wood and some of aloes-wood, with panels
of mother of pearl, and studded with nails, the heads
of which were large jewels. In the centre of the
saloons stood fountains of rock crystal, crowned with
canopies of red and yellow brocade, whose refresh-
ing waters ran in channels along the floors. The
casements were netted over with curious lattice-
*- and above them were small windows of
THAT TURNED EVEBTTHING INTO GOLD. 47
stained glass representing bunches of flowers.
The benches were of ivory, set with rubies and
jacinths, and soft with cushions of silk; and the
couches and divans of bright-hued damasks with
fringes of pearls; and the pavilions of cloth of
gold emblazoned with precious stones of all kinds
and colours. The tables were of Egyptian porphyry,
with legs of alabaster; while curtains, richly and
grotesquely worked, hung before the doors of closets,
the locks of which were of white silver, to be opened
by artifice, without a key. Some of these were
filled with jewelled swords and gilded helmets, and
lances and coats of mail; and others stored with
robes furred with sable, and dresses of the costliest
stuffs, lustrous with ornaments, and neck-rings,
and collars, and bracelets, of the rarest gems; while
in others there were chests heavy with vessels
and dishes of red gold, and cups of cornelian and
agate, and ewers of crystal worked green with
emeralds; and in others coffers holding hundred-
weights of coin, and brimming with pieces, in
number like the stars.
Giddy with the glitter of the pomp that surrounded
him, &lvio for a time forgot hia mc^^jiOcki^^ » ^\>^ ^&
48 THE GOOD GENIUS
he became sobered to the grandeur of the scene, his
thoughts reverted to the Princess, and he grew to
look upon his possessions only as brilliant bribes for
her hand.
While he was planning some rare present, by
which to win the favour of the King, news reached
him that the Princess's royal father purposed hunting
shortly in the forest which adjoined the Prince's
palace, and Silvio determined on inviting, the mo-
narch to a feast. Accordingly he petitioned " Vejez,
sumamed the Silver-haired, the mighty King of
Corallion, that he would rain joy in the palace of
Prince Silvio, and deign to break bread with his
servant." And inclosing the letter in a purse of
silk, figured with brilliants, he dispatched it to
Corallion by a troop of Mamelukes.
And when the troop returned, bringing horses
and slaves as tokens of the royal pleasure, Silvio
resolved on dazzling the monarch with his wealth,
and poured out the treasures of his coffers with a
prodigality that certainly realized the Bee's predic-
tion as to the rapid bankruptcy of the Prince, had
his capital been limited to a thousand pieces.
THAT TUBM^D EYERTTHING INTO GOLD. 49
When the day of the feast arrived, the wealth
displayed by the Woodman certainly was sufficient
to dazzle the sight even of one so well accustomed
to it as the King; for the luxurious tables seemed
alight with jewels and to flame with gold. Then
Silyio, reading in the eyes of his royal guest his
cunningly suppressed envy of the Prince's posses-
sions, took courage, and, intent on declaring his pas-
sion for the Princess Amaranth, had even led the
conversation after the feast to the subject of the
lady's charms, when the arrival of some important
despatches, requiring the King's immediate attention;
suddenly brought the discourse to an end.
It was evident, by the lowering of the monarch's
brow, as he perused the documentB, that they brought
him no pleasant tidings.
Silvio inquired the cause of his royal guest's
displeasure, when the King informed him that a
neighbouring power h^ declared war against him,
and was then fitting out a fleet with the avowed
intention of besieging his capital ; that his navy
had not been kept up for some years, and that, owing
to the poverty of his subjects, he dare not levy «xvn[
^^ THE GOOD GENIUS
new tax for tlie re-establishment of it; and he knew
not what to do.
The Woodman deliberated for a moment, and
tlien, telling the King that he was a foreign Prince,
who, having heard of the charms of his daughter,
had built himself a palace in those parts with a
view of winning her, said, that for the hand of the
Princess Amaranth, he would place at the disposal
of the monarch a fleet which he expected to arrive
in a few days.
Pleased at the prospect of an alliance with one
whose possessions and power appeared so vast, the
King readily consented to the Woodman's proposal,
and taking an affectionate leave of the delighted
Silvio, departed for Corallion, intent on communi-
cating the intelligence to his daughter.
CHAPTER XL
Silvio rose at rather an unprincely hour, and putting
on the goat-skin dress, scarcely knew himself again,
as he passed one of the mirrors, and caught a glimpse
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 51
of his figure attired in such an unfashionable
costume. So, slinking out the back way, he made for
the forest as fast as he could, and inye^ing the Bee,
quickly told her that for a fleet of ships he could
obtain the hand of the Princess Amaranth, and
requested her, by the aid of her magic, " to let that
wood become the fleet."
" Does your royal Highness," archly inquired
the roguish little Bee, " happen to remember a poor
Woodman who used to live not a hundred miles
from these parts? Well! he came to me once, do you
know, to beg the favour of a little paint and plaster,
vowing — your royal Highness would hardly credit
it — ^that it was all he wanted in the world to make
him happy. So I told the simpleton he'd soon find
his notions of happiness rise above the two luxurious
articles he had named, and that I shouldn't wonder
if, one day, he came to ask me to help him to
marry a princess. And what do you think he
replied? Why, he said that, as for his marrying a
princess, he should as soon expect to see a fleet of
ships at anchor in this very wood. But it isn't
likely that your royal Highness wovxli ^iwv^^'wsK^^
e2
52 THE GOOD GENIUS
to be connected with a Woodman; so, of course, the
joke is thrown away upon you."
" You are mistaken," cried Silvio, half angry at
the gibes of the Bee; " I am still the Woodman at
heart, though love has forced me to become the
Prince to the world."
" Yes!" drily remarked the sly little fairy; " and
it must be a dreadful sacrifice on your part, to put
up with such drudgery. But your sufferings, poor
man! ought not to go unrewarded; so your royal
Highness shall have your beloved Princess — at least,
if what you ask will obtain her for you."
And so saying, the Bee began to hum this
charm —
" Up, elves! for the land now the ocean must be!
Up, elves! for a forest must dance on the sea!
Up! elves! and let fishes live where the birds brood!
Up ! up ! let a fleet of ships float in the wood !"
«
Obedient to the summons of their Queen, hives
after hives poured forth their elfin dans, who,
settling on the trees and land, made the green earth
black with their numbers. Then large branches
were seen to fall to the ground, throwing up clouds
THAT TUliNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 53
of little Bees, like gold dust, in their course; and
soon the naked stems of the dismantled trees stood
np lank as giant reeds, some of which bent down
and curved themselves into the ribs and sides of
ships, whilst others, remaining erect, became the
masts. Presently broke forth the din of myriads of
little hammers, making the air ring again with their
clamour like a gong; while countless fairy furnaces
shone brightly as glow-worms through the forest,
and little green elves were seen with their faces^
chests, and arms, reddened by the flame, forging
anchors and bolts at the fires. Amidst the fairy
clatter there was heard, too, the drone of the spin-
ning of the fibres of the cocoa-nut tree into cordage
for the fleet; and as the filaments grew ropes with
the whirling of the hundred wheels, swarms of ready
Bees flew off" with them, and fitted them as the
shrouds and stays to the masts; while other busy
bands were heard singing as they hoisted the yards
and bent the sails, and others, like a little elfin crew,
scrambled up the rigging, and plied away at the
fastening of the gear. And then the earth began
to melt and sink like snow, and the impatient wave%
54 THE GOOD GENIUS
came tumbling over one another along the subsiding
shore; and the waters rose — and rose — and rose,
until at length the fairy fleet rode buoyantly in the
Magic Bay.
CHAPTER Xn.
Silvio hurried to the palace of King Vejez with
the news of the fleet's arrival, and solicited of
the monarch the fulfilment of his pledge. But the
monarch had slept upon his hasty promise, and told
the Prince that he feared a selfish love of power had
made him forget his duty to his child, and that he
had undertaken to give as a price for the fleet what
he had no right to barter; adding, that his daughter's
affection was a marriage portion which it was beyond
his means to bestow. Besides, she was the only thing
in the world that he loved, and that loved him in
return; and he had so many to do his bidding as
subjects, that, tired of power, and surfeited with
subserviency, he had long treasured up his child as
THAT TUBNED EYEBTTHING INTO GOLD. 55
the one being with whom he desired his sovereignty
to end, and whom he wished to guide instead of
govern.
" For a father's care/* said the King, " should be
to his daughter what the staff is to the blind girl —
an instrument to pilot her way through life, to warn
her of stumbling-blocks and pitfalls, and guide her
in her darkness, lest, treading on treacherous ground,
she falters, and with a false step falls. But many
there are, who, loving rather to drive than lead,
would make the staff the cudgel. And that I fear,
Prince Silvio," the monarch continued, " I under-
took to do last night. You must, therefore, my
friend, absolve me from my pledge, unless you, by
your entreaties, can prevail upon my daughter to
become a willing party to the contract." And, so
saying, he invited the Prince to remain in the palace
to urge his suit with the Princess.
Now, when the lady found that Silvio, the wealthy
Prince, and Silvio, the poor Woodman, were the
same in person, though they differed so widely in
appearance, she no longer spurned his love, but
wondering at his suddenly-acquired possessions and
56 THB GOOD OBNIUS
power, not very reluctantly assented to her father's
and her lover's wishes.
" Ah!" said Silvio, " I fear it is my palace, and
not myself, that has won the Princess Amaranth's
heart."
" It is neither the one nor the other," returned
the Lady, " but the two together. Are you still so
romantic as to think that a heart pampered in a
palace could find contentment in a cottage?"
Silvio replied, that it was the union of sympa-
thetic minds that constituted happiness.
" And the union of ill-assorted minds, misery,"
added the Princess, " as the fable of the Nightingale
and the Dormouse long ago taught me. I will tell
it you : —
^" A dormouse once fell in love with a nightin-
1
gale, and assuring her that nature had formed them
for each other, he besought the queen of song to
share his nest with him, and to become the partner
of his paw and heart; to which the queen of song,
with becoming bashfulness, consented. The couple
lived very happily together for the day; but at eve
the nightingale, unused to the pleasures of domestic
THAT TURNED EYERTTHIMG INTO GOLD. 57
retirement, began to want to go out to her sylvan
soirees, and have a little music, as she had always been
accustomed to of an evening, in the woods. But
the dormouse, on the other hand, being particularly
fond of his bed, objected to sit up of a night until his
fashionable bride came home from her evening con-
certs. This led to domestic differences; whereupon
the dormouse declared that the feathered lady must
learn to keep better hours, for that he wasn't going
to be dragged out of his warm bed to let her in of a
morning, he could tell her. So the dormouse blocked
up the door of his nest as soon as it was dusk, vowing
that his gad- about partner should stay at home, and
retire to rest with the sun. But no sooner had her
sleepy lord and master shut his eyes, than the
nightingale, unable to accommodate herself to so
strange a life, struck up her * Jug I Jug! Jug!'
and continued warbling all the night through; so
that the poor dormouse couldn't get a wink of sleep,
and the next morning readily agreed to a divorce.
And thus the * happy' couple *whom nature had
formed for each other,' soon grew heartily sick of
one another, and separated before the week was out.
58 THE GOOD GENIUS
The moral of the story being, Prince Silvio, that
to wed unequally is to suflfer equally."
Silvio being more inclined for love than logic,
did not stay to discuss the point with the Princess,
but sought the King, and informed him of the happy
issue of his tender tete-a-tete with his daughter,
and accordingly the day was fixed for the nuptials
of the royal couple.
In the meantime, Silvio, knowing the general
weakness of the sex for gratuitous jewelry, fre-
quently visited his fairy friend, in order that he
might secure the hold he had gained upon the
Princess's affections by diamond bracelets, chains,
lockets, and such like amiable trifles. And being
observed to leave the royal residence at an hour and
in a dress more in accordance with a gentleman
who earned his living by the sweat of his brow than
one who was the sole proprietor of a palace, the
jealous courtiers grew suspicious of the hitherto un-
heard-of Prince, and impertinently inquisitive as to
the latitude and longitude of his Principality. Nor
were the sudden hocus pocus erection of his palace,
and the * hiccius doccius' formation of the bay, con-
THAT TURNED EVEBYTHING INTO GOLD. 59
sidered^ in their eyes, to redound much to his credit;
while the victory gained by his Jack- Robinson fleet
only served to redouble the many envious rumours
against him, which already formed the staple conver-
sation of all the feminine tea-parties in Corallion,
It was not long before these flattering reports
wormed their way to the King's ears, who,
allowing that the whole business, certainly, had
not a very clear complexion, gave orders that the
Prince should be watched in the morning, so that
he might learn the object of his eccentric conduct.
And when he was informed, by the parties to
whom the office was assigned, that his intended son-
in-law was on speaking terms with a Bee in the
woods, the King determined to look into the merits
of the case himself, before he entrusted the hand of
his daughter to a gentleman with such singular
tastes and acquaintances. Accordingly, he requested
the honour of Prince Silvio's company to a grand
hunting and hawking excursion, which he got up
with several new efl*ects expressly for the occasion,
80 as to allow the most trusty and light-fingered of
his courtiers an opportunity of borrowing the ca^jrina
costume of the late Woodman duTix\^\C\& «J?i^%^^^*
60
THE GOOD GENIUS
CHAPTER XIII.
The morning after the hunt, the King, following the
accounts of the courtiers, went habited in the dame
dress, at the same hour, and to the same place as that
m which Silvio had been seen to hold communion
with the Bee; and there the monarch seated himself,
waiting patiently for the Fairy's coming.
Never before having seen the sun make his first
appearance in the heavens, the King passed the time
in watching its progress, and felt considerable dis-
appointment, and not a little disgust, on finding the
" gorgeous spectacle" so different from what the
poets had led him to expect; and certainly there was
not upon this occasion that brilliant display of red
fire which usually accompanies the entrance of that
illustrious character, as he comes up through the
trap-door of the East, for a thick mist seemed to
throw, what appeared to the monarch, an aerial wet
blanket upon the whole proceedings. So, growing
rather chilly with the rising dew, the King thanked
THAT TURNED EVEETTHING INTO GOLD. 61
his Stars that he was not always called upon to leave
his bed until the sun had passed his bright copper
warming-pan over the damp clouds, and properly
aired the atmosphere for his reception.
At length, nipped out of all patience with the cold,
he wished to goodness that the Bee would come, if
ahe meant coming at all, and immediately the little
fairy buzzed before him.
"Good day to you. Sire! I'm happy to see you
here in that dress," said the Bee, ** and what can I do
for your M^jesty this morning?"
" Tut ! tut !" proudly answered the monarch;
** what can you, a Bee, do for me, a King ?"
" Well !" replied the Fairy, nettled at the haughty
air of his majesty, "you Engs are not in the habit
of doing much — so there ! Though I dare say you
would make out that you're a dreadfully over-
worked and under-paid gentleman."
The monarch begged the Bee would remember
to whom she was speaking, and pay proper respect
to the institutions of his country.
"There!" said the Bee, "just because you're
masquerading in that fancy costume, you're annoyed
62 THE GOOD GENIUS
at my discovering your real character. As if it
was not easy to tell, from the whiteness of your
hands, that you've all your life been more accustomed
to the handling of toothpicks than axes. But we are
a Queen ourselves," continued the Bee, " so we
must spare the feelings of our royal cousin."
The King requested that the Bee would claim no
kindred with him, adding, that it was a matter of
perfect indiflference to him whether she spared him
or not.
"Very well!" replied the Bee; "then we had
better transact our business, and break up the meet-
ing. So what does our royal cousin — pardon me —
what does your Majesty require?"
The Monarch, with a sneer, begged to know
what her Littleness could do?
"Do!" returned the Bee — "whatever any one
in that dress desires."
"Very likely!" said the King, with an incre-
dulous chuckle. " Well, then, just to try the hand
of your Mightiness, suppose you — a — suppose you
fell that clump of trees."
And no sooner were the words out of his Ma-
THAT TURNED. EVEETTHING INTO GOLD. 63
jesty's mouth than he was set upon by a whole regi-
ment of little elves, who began to swing his limbs
violently about, seeming to wrest each muscle from
its place and every bone from its socket; while
others, jumping on his bosom and working away at
his chest, pumped the breath out of his lungs in
heavy and copious gasps. Then others, armed with
tiny cudgels, attacked his legs and loins, and kept
belabouring him, till his whole body smarted and
ached again with the blows; while another tor-
menting band whirled his head round and round
like a harlequin's, until, at length, fairly spent with
the pains, the aged King sank swooning on the
ground.
And there the Monarch might have remained,
had not the courtiers, alarmed at his prolonged
absence, gone in quest of him; and having heard
of his purposed visit to the Bee in the forest, bent
their steps in the direction of the spot to which they
had previously followed his intended son-in-law.
When they found the King stretched senseless
on the ground, with the felled trees lying around
him, they felt more convinced than ever that Fru\i(^
64 THE GOOD GENIUS
Silvio was the intimate friend of another prince,
celebrated for his darkness; and making a litter
with the fallen branches, they carried their un-
conscious sovereign to the palace, where they quickly
breezed about the wonderful story, so that it was
soon currently reported that the Princess Amaranth
was about to be united to the elder Mister Nicholas
himself.
CHAPTER XIV.
The loss of the dress was soon discovered by the
wretched Silvio, who, seeking the consolation of the
Princess Amaranth, told her that he owed all his
prosperity to its magic powers, and that with it he
feared had fled all the happiness that he fancied he
had in store for her.
Scarcely had he finished recounting his sorrows
to the Lady, when a band of guards suddenly en-
tered the apartment, and claiming Silvio as their
prisoner, led him in custody before the £[ing. Vejez,
though still sufibring from the rough treatment he
THAT TURNED EVEBTTHING INTO GOLD. 65
had experienced, yet was now sufficiently recovered
to denounce his late intended son-in-law before
the assembled court as the associate of fiends, and
to condemn him to be confined in a dungeon until
such time as the royal council decided on his fate;
and as an additional punishment, he directed that
the Prince should be forced to .wear the very dress
that had put the Monarch to such torture.
The Princess, when she heard of the sentence
passed upon her affianced husband, with tears
besought her father to relent, but the King was
only the more enraged to find his daughter a victim,
as he fancied, to the Prince's evil powers, and forbade
her to think or speak of the Sorcerer again; unless,
indeed, she wished to shorten even the short term
of years that her aged father had to live, and that
dying, he should curse the child who once had
been his greatest blessing.
The Princess, however, convinced of Silvio's
innocence, and fearful of the doom that awaited
bim, determined to liberate him, at least by stealth
if she could not by entreaty. So when her father
had retired to rest, she stole to the royal chamber,
F •
THE GOOD GENIUS
and slipped the signet ring from the finger of the
King, who, worn out by his suflferings in the morning,
slept heavily and soundly.
Silvio having minutely examined the dungeon,
and found no feasible mode of escape, was busy
ransacking his brains for some cunning means by
which to bring the Bee to his aid, when the Princess
entered, and telling him that the ring she brought
would pass him safely through the gates of the
palace, bade him take it and fly for his life.
" And leave you behind, to suflfer in my stead?"
added Silvio. " No! I care not for my life without
you; so take back the ring, kind Lady, while you
yet have time to replace it; and let me remain here^
at least happy in knowing that you, above all, are
safe."
"Return it! I cannot!" replied the Princess; "I
have no longer the courage that gave me the
strength to obtain it. I thought not of myself,
Silvio, but of you."
" And would you have me do less?" returned the
Prince. "Mark the situation in which my flight
without you would place us both. You, as the
THAT TURNED EVEBTTHIN6 INTO GOLD. 67
instrument of my escape, would have to bear the
impetuous wrath of the foiled King, and this you
would have braved to give me happiness; whilst
I, knowing the heavy price I had paid for my
liberty, and despising myself for the means by
which I had obtained it, could but suffer the
keenest misery. Think you, then, that I would be
base enough to fly while you are weak enough to
stay? No! But come you with me, Amaranth,
and the safety of each will be the happiness of
both."
" Come with you! and risk my father's curses!"
the Princess answered.
" And do you imagine,'* asked Silvio, in reply,
"that remaining here will shield you from them?
Your absence may allay his anger, but your presence,
dearest, can only serve to inflame it. Time and the
magic dress, be assured, will soon restore you to his
favour."
And thus the impassioned Silvio pleaded, till at
length the Princess, unable to find answers to his
cunning arguments, yielded to his entreaties, and
leading the way, conducted him, by virtue of
f2
68 THE GOOD GENIUS
the signet ring, in safety beyond the palace gates,
where a camel awaited his coming; and, mounting
it, the happy couple were soon far removed from
the power of the sleeping Vejez.
CHAPTER XV.
Silvio fled with his trembling companion as fast as
the camel could carry them; for he was anxious to
get as far as he could from the city of the King be-
fore the time came for summoning the Bee to his
assistance. So on he went, watching eagerly till
he beheld the sky grow tawny with the tint of
Dawn, and the dark clouds of Night flitting bat-like
before the light of the coining Day; and when, as the
camel panted up the steep side of a lofty mountain,
he saw the shadows of the trees stretch far along the
valley beneath him, he urged the jaded beast on to
the summit, where he alighted, and called his good
little genius to his aid.
" Good morning to Prince Silvio !" said the Bee,
coming up as readily as if her hive was within a two
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 69
minutes' fly of the spot; "and good morning to — ^if
Fm not mistaken — ^Princess Silvio that is to be.
Ah, my dear!" continued the little Fairy, "you
can't imagine what a deal of trouble we have both
been put to on your account! I wanted him to have
you a long time ago, but he would go shilly-shally-
ing on, though I told him it would be sure to come
to this in the end. And now," she added, address-
ing herself to Silvio, " since you have obtained the
Lady for whom you so generously consented to live,
of course you are content, and cannot want any-
thing further of me."
Silvio replied that he merely wanted a city of
which he might be the King, so that the Princess
should miss none of the luxuries to which her
father's station had accustomed her.
" Well, I declare!" said the Bee to the Princess,
" what a pattern of a dear disinterested husband
you have got, to be sure! If he isn't going to sen-
tence himself to the hard labour of government, and
solely on your account! Because I know he told me,
a long time ago, that he wasn't such a child as to
go panting after the butterfly Ambition. So aa it'&
70 THE GOOD GENIUS
all for you, my dear, I suppose I must let him com-
mence business as a monarch, and start him in life
with a kingdom, as he desires. Under the circum-
stances, however. Prince Silvio, I think your empire
had better not be too close to your royal father's
dominions; so what do you say to my changing
that wilderness, yonder, into a grand city for the
Princess — eh?"
Silvio had scarcely expressed his approval of the
site when the following words were heard ringing
through the air : —
" Where wild beasts have made their lair,
Man shall sleep in safety there !
Where weeds cumber up the plain,
There shall wave the golden grain !
So up with walls ! — with thickets down !
Till the wild becomes the town !"
Immediately the Prince and Princess saw some
half-dozen white huts shoot up, huddled together
beside the dark wood, and a red road run like light-
ning along the plains towards the river, which
flowed in the distance like silken riband streaming
in the wind. Then they beheld larger and higher
houses start out of the ground, and the wood grow
THAT TDRNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 71
thinner and thinner; while the buildings, instead of
being jumbled together in small clusters, now began
to stretch themselves into order, and the thread-like
streets to radiate as the fibres of a spider's web.
Then Silvio pointed out to the wondering Prin-
cess how the river was curving from its course,
and winding itself half round the growing town, like
a rim of burnished silver; and then how bridges were
being flung from bank to bank. Suddenly they saw
a hundred gilded domes bubble up shimmering in
the sun like bells of gold, and the distant city bristle
with countless minarets, slender as spears. Then
they could perceive a massive wall coil itself round
the town, and gird it in as with a belt of stone; and
the neighbouring wild become mapped into fields
and gardens, and grow tessellated with culture; and
then they heard a thousand voices in the air crying,
" Peace be unto Silvio, King of the City of the
Diamond Waters."
72
THE GOOD GENIUS
CHAPTER XVI.
The beauty of the City of the Diamond Waters
soon brought swarms of householders and subjects
to the empire of King Silvio, who lost no time in
maJking the necessary preparations for his marriage
with the Princess Amaranth.
The interesting nature of " the joyful event**
opened the mouths and ears of all the married and
unmarried ladies in the capital; and Ben Bajo, the
royal barber, having whispered to his beloved Gor-
diflonna, surnamed the Dressy — the co-proprietor of
his heart and hand — all the particulars of the cere-
mony, and done so in the strictest matrimonial con-
fidence, on the condition that it should go no farther,
it was soon, of course, currently reported through-
out the city that " it was to be a perfect beauty of
a procession, and to cost no one could say what!"
As for the beloved Gordiflonna, she wouldn't
miss such a sight as that for all the world — that she
wouldn't. It wasn't as if kings got married every day
THAT TURNED EVERYTHINO INTO GOLD. 73
of the week. Besides, any woman, who had her pro-
per feelings about her, would, of course, feel anxious
to see how the poor Princess bore it. And just be-
cause her husband was in the palace every morning
she supposed he thought the rest of the world cared
as little for the show as he did. It was all very
well for him to say she was his darling, and that he
didn't want to prevent her seeing it — though she
should just like to know what he called it when
he was well aware, as she was, that she hadn't a
gown fit to put on. She dared say now he'd have
her go and show herself at the first floor window in
a dress like that — ^but, no ! she'd sooner have the
window bricked up first! though it was the best
window for seeing in all the town, and so he knew
it was. Well ! certainly some people seemed to take
no pride in their wives* looks ! — He ought to have
had a nasty slommicking bit of goods, with her
things all hanging about her anyhow, and then he'd
have found out the difference. But she'd say no
more about it. K he didn't choose to give her a dress,
he might let it alone. Though she'd just tell him
this — ^that if he was mean enough to let her buy one
74 THE GOOD GENIUS
herself she'd make up for it in the housekeeping ex-
pences; for she'd take good care that he shouldn't
taste a sweetmeat for the next twelvemonth — so
come!
How the lady became possessed of the dress we
can't say; but this we can — that on the day of the
royal marriage, there she was in a bran-new cherry-
coloured silk, sitting veiled at the open window,
which she had decorated with small red and green
flags, and where she appeared surrounded by a select
party of her nearest and dearest female relations,
who kept continually stretching their heads out of
the window, in their anxiety to catch the first
glimpse of the procession of the bride on her way to
the palace; while the royal barber himself, who had
just returned from attending on the person of the
King, lay stretched on his divan, indulging in his
pipe of opium cum dignitate; notwithstanding his
beloved Gordiflonna's repeated entreaties for him to
come to the window, and enjoy himself like a human
being.
Suddenly, one of the outstretched necks drew in
just to say, " Here' they come!" and then as sud-
denlj- stretched out again.
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 75
Then was heard the sound of drums and haut-
boys; whereupon the darling Gordiflonna again
wondered why the royal barber couldn't leave that
nasty pipe of his for a minute. " Why don't you
come now, Bajo?" she cried; "here are the buffoons
knocking one another about like anything, I tell
you! and if there isn't one walking on his hands!
Oh! and here's that water-carrier again, with that
great heavy skin full of sand and water, who has
been going about the streets all the morning showing
off his strength to a crowd of little boys. And my!
if here a'n't the jugglers and fire-eaters! Only look
here, Bajo — now do— you ought to come and see
this one swallowing a knife. Lord love the man I
what can his throat be made of ? And here come
the painted waggons, I declare! All filled with dif-
ferent workmen, too — oh, how beautiful ! There must
be one to every trade, I'm sure. Don't you smell
the coffee, Bajo? There's a man making some in the
first waggon, and giving it away to the mob for no-
thing. And, gracious me! if they a'n't a-making
pancakes in the second, and sweetmeats in the third!
It quite makes one's mouth water to see theml
Well, ifjrou can't hear, Ben Ba^o, i^?^ tloX. tk^ ^«s^x.%
76 THE GOOD GENIUS
you ought to come and look for yourself. You never
saw such fun ! They're scrambling for the pancakes
and sweetmeats, and they're chucking 'em away, as
if they cost nothing — that they are ! And now here's
another waggon, full of workmen, making such
heavenly lace; and if that woman hasn't got a whole
yard of it for nothing — a minx! And now, do come
and see, Bajo — do! Here's something quite in your
way, a group of dancing girls with their petticoats
as short as I don't know what. I m sure, I wonder
how the impudent things can ever have the face to go
about so ! And now here's another waggon, with a man
in it weaving such a love of a brocade! What a sweet
pretty skirt it would make, cousin Fatima ! — wouldn't
it, dear? And here come the tinners now, tinning
a whole waggon load of copper pans ! They might as
well have done ours, Ben Bajo, if you'd only have
thought of it. Well! and now, I never! if here isn't
another waggon full of a set of fellows, whitewash-
ing a wall over and over again, just for the sake of
showing what they can do! And here are more
dancers — and more musicians — and more j ugglers —
and some wrestlers now, as I live! Isn't it beautiful,
THAT TURNED EVEBYTHING INTO GOLD. 77
coasin Fatima, eh? I wouldn't have missed it for a
good deal. You stupid fellow, Bajo, why dorCt you
come? Here are the married ladies, all riding on
high saddled asses — two — four — six — eight —
twelve! Oh, goodness! what a lot of married ladies!
And here are the virgins now! — in such ducks of
dresses, and veils too! Well, the King seems to he
a perfect gentleman! — he hasn't spared any expense,
certainly. And now, Ben Bajo, you must come!
The bride's just in sight; I can see her red silk
canopy, I tell you!"
" Bother all the brides! I wish I'd never seen
one in my life," growled the royal barber, dreaming
over the fumes of his opium.
" Ah, that's just like you men — ^you brutes! The
good things of the world are entirely thrown away
upon you !" replied the barber's better half. " But
here's the bride, I say. Just look at her, cousin
Fatima — isn't she a sweet dear? She seems to go
through it quite like an angel, I declare! and it is
such a severe trial, you know. And if she isn't co-
vered from head to foot in the loveliest pet of a Cash-
mere shawl I ever saw! I wonder what it could have
78 THE GOOD GENIUS
cost Only just look too, cousin, at those pearls she's
•
got in her head! Why, they're as big as grapes, as
I'm a living woman ! And now here's such a lot of
black slaves, Bajo! did ever any one see the like?
And here comes a troop of Mamelukes, all in beautiful
armour. What fine fellows they do look, to be sure!
don't they, cousin Fatima? Well! if my time was
to come over again, I really do think I should be
tempted to marry into the army. And now here
comes another band of music, just to wind up with.
But we've had enough of that, cousin, for I declare
my head quite aches with the noise and the bustle.
So, now, do let us come and have a mouthful of some-
thing to eat."
The bride having reached the palace, sat down to
a magnificent repast that had been prepared for her
reception, and awaited the coming of King Silvio,
who had retired with his suite to the mosque.
Hence he returned in state, accompanied by
musicians and singers chanting lyric odes, and
lighted on his way by nobles, some bearing poles,
with silver frames at the top, fiaming with scented
THAT TURNED EVEBYTHING INTO GOLD. 79
woods; others carrying odoriferous waxen flam-
beaux; and others strewing his path with flowers;
whilst the royal treasurer scattered among the mob
balls of musk, containing papers on which were
written the description of lands, and slaves, and
horses, and sums of money, which were to become
the property of those into whose hands they fell; and
the officers of the household flung among the people
jewels and pieces of gold and silver.
When King Silvio entered the apartment of his
bride, which was Hghted by candles of ambergris in
lanterns of gold, he poured over her head, previous
to taking off" the shawl which covered her, a shower
of brilliants from a box of agate, and calling on the
Prophet, removed the veil from her face, and, for
the first time, beheld the beauty of her countenance.
Then, how his bewildered eyes ran over and
over each new-found feature! — now feasting his
sight on her luxuriant tresses, black as the shadows
of Noon^ and bursting from their chains of pearls,
and falling in dark clouds about her neck, which was
as white and graceful as the swan's — ^now marvelling
at the lustre of those eyes beaming kindness like
80 THE GOOD GENIUS
the evening star, and fringed with long, dark, silken
lashes — then gazing in ecstasy on her eyebrows,
black as raven's feathers fallen on snow — then
lingering over her tempting little mouth, breathing
fragrance as though its lips were rose leaves; and
then resting his giddy glances on her cheek tinted
by Morning with the damask hue of health — until at
length, laying his hand upon her head, with rapture
he cried, " Allah! bless me in my wife, and bless
my wife in me! Allah, continue to unite us
as thou hast united us happily ; and when thou
sendest Death to separate us — oh, separate us peace-
fully!"
CHAPTER XVII.
" A VIRTUOUS wife," says the proverb, " is a crown to
her husband," so that Silvio came into the possession
of a couple of crowns at once; and, entering simul-
taneously into the holy states of matrimony and
royalty, he determined to do honour to both, and
have, as it were, two honeymoons rolled into one. So
he sentenced himself for a month to the hard labour
THAT TUllNKD EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 81
of merry-making, and buckling to work at pleasure,
sat up late at night, toiling over the luxuries of the
table. He had banquets, and masques, and fetes, and
state balls, and hunting parties, and games, with a
hundred other different devices for hurrying along
that old dawdle. Time — and all, dear good man, for
the sake of his pretty little queen!
But when the month, the little month of the
honeymoon, had slipped away, it was evident that the
mode of life was so much like what Amaranth had
been accustomed to, that Silvio felt it was his duty,
as a Husband, a King, and a Man, to continue the
entertainments, by express desire, for a few weeks
longer. And when the. few weeks had galloped
past. Pleasure was re-engaged, and he got to " po-
sitively the last six nights" of feasting; after which
he gave a farewell banquet, and then another, and
another, until there were farewell banquets out of
number, and the Queen Amaranth's cheeks, iifttead
of looking as if they were tinted with the roey hues
of Morning, partook rather of the sallow complezioii
of that chaste luminary who is so famous for sitting
up all night — the Moon. While the once well-fille<l
Q
82 THE GOOI> GENIUS
coffers of the royal exchequer at length began to
show what they were made of at the bottom; "so that
his Majesty's TVeasurer shortly came to him, and
humbly requested to be informed how and where
he was to procure further supplies.
Silvio, who since he had commenced ruling, had
been too busy to think of anything but Pleasure,
now, for the first time after his accession to the
throne turned his mind to his fairy friend, and telling
the Treasurer that he expected some money before
long, promised himself that he would go and visit
the Bee in the course of a week or so. Though he
wished to goodness her Fairyship had fixed the hour
for seeing her at a more reasonable time of the day!
But the * week or so' passed by, and not a few more
'weeks or so' besides, without the promised visit being
paid; for the King felt loth to leave a bed that the
excesses of the overnight now made so particularly
comfortable in the morning. So he kept putting off
and putting off his excursion at day break to the
fields, until the Treasurer came a second time to
remind his Majesty of the state of the royal supplies;
for he had now far exceeded the means at his
THAT TURNED ETEBYTHIN6 INTO GOLD. 88
disposal. Silvio, annoyed at his own dilatoriness,
and making all kinds of vows to himself, that he
would positively go to the Bee at the earliest op-
portunity, told the Treasurer that if the money
was a matter of such immediate importance, he had
better raise some on the rents, and not come bother-
ing him every other day about a few paltry pence.
But the royal Treasurer informed his Majesty
that, not liking to trouble him, he had taken the
liberty of forestalling the royal rents for the neit
year, whereupon his Majesty informed the royal
Treasurer that he would make a point of attending
as soon as possible to the state of his exchequer; and
that, in the meantime, the Treasurer must manage
as best he could — with bonds — or a new tax for a
short period— or, indeed, anything he pleased.
And again applying to himself none of the most
ocHnplimentary names, he made an internal affidavit
that nothing on earth should prevent him seeing
liie Bee at sunrise the very next morning.
But unfortunately for the virtuous resolution of
bis Majesty, he did not wake ^ the very next morn-
ing* until the Sun had got half through hi& d^y^
q2
84 THE GOOD GENIUS
work; so that there was another day gone, and all
through the mere caprice of that plaguy little Bee
wanting to drag a man out of his bed at an hour
when no gentleman could ever be expected to quit it.
Really any one who did not know her true character,
would think it had been done out of sheer spite.
However, there was one comfort, it was no fault of
his; it was impossible for him to have been out in
the fields, when he was in bed fast asleep. Though,
as it must be done some time, he supposed the only
way was to make the best of a bad bargain, and get
it over as quickly as he could. So his Chamberlain
should call him in time on the morrow; and then
he'd get it off his mind altogether.
And so the chamberlain did; whereupon the sleepy
Silvio demanded to know how the impudent scoun-
drel dare intrude upon the royal. slumbers, when he
must have known that his Sovereign had only been
in bed two hours. And summoning the guards, he
ordered the fellow to be imprisoned for his treason.
Silvio, however, was not long before he saw that the
Chamberlain was less to blame than himself, though
certainly the varlet might have executed his orders
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 85
in a more gentle and respectful manner. So he
liberated the officer, gave him a lecture, and a draft
on the royal exchequer for a thousand pieces of gold;
and hoping that the lesson would teach him better
for the future, desired him to call him again to-
morrow, and see if he couldn't then behave himself
with the reverence due to his Monarch.
Well! the Chamberlain called the King again the
next day, in a manner that even the tetchy Silvio —
who was ready to catch at the faintest shadow of an
excuse for his own sluggishness — could not quarrel
with. But unluckily then the elements had conspired
to damp the Monarch's virtuous resolves; and as he
very truly observed, " Now that he'd another so
dear to him to live for^ he had no right to go out in
the rain, and peril his life by catching his death of
cold; but it was always the case, — only let a man
determine to do a noble act, and something was cer-
tain to turn up at the last moment and prevent him.
However, thank Heaven! his conscience was per-
fectly free. He'd made a vow to go to the Bee, and
be was resolved not to rest until he had accomplished
it. And so saying, the Monarch turned on to his
8^ THE GOOD GENIUS
other side, and proceeded to make up his uaual
allowance of repose.
And thus poor Silvio went on, morning after
morning, inventing all kinds of apologies for his own
indolence, until at last Providence blessed him witli
a very fine excuse in the shape of a very fine little
girl. And then as he justly remarked, " It would be
a sin to expect that, for the sake of procuring a little
worldly dross, he should pluck out by the roots all
the heavenly feelings of his nature, and leave a
helpless babe and its suffering mother at an hour
when they most needed a father's and a husband's
fostering care. No King, he was sure, ever desired
more sincerely than he did to reign in the hearts of
his people, but was he to sink the Man in the
Monarch, and to allow his zeal for the comforts of
his subjects to make him forget his duty to his own
flesh and blood? No!" So he gave directions for
the customary seven days feasting in honour of the
birth of his daughter, whom he christened Azuria,
the blue-eyed — and ordered his council to levy a
tax sufficient to meet the expenses.
And when Silvio found that supplies could be
-Stained almost as readily from laia beloved people
THAT TURNED EVEBYTHING INTO GOLD. 87
as firom the Bee, he had no longer any scruples about
his neglect of her; but went on taxing and taxing
year after year, in a way that showed, that, how-
ever great a disgrace he might have felt it, as a
Woodman, to live on the fruits of other persons' in-
dustry, still, as the king, it was clear he viewed
the matter in quite a different light.
Thus affairs went on in the City of the Diamond
Waters, until the beauty which once adorned it
began to show evident signs of neglect and decay;
while the people scrupled not to complain of
the many burthens imposed upon their land and
labour; and the King at length was roused by his
council to the impoverished and discontented state
of his kingdom. And then he vowed to himself,
with all the earnestness of sincere sympathy, that —
come what may — he would seek the Bee, and by her
magic power put an end to the murmurs and suf-
ferings of his subjects.
And being satisfied that his late mode of life had
quite unfitted him for early rising, and, moreover,
having grown distrustful of himself by his previous
shufflings, Silvio resolved this time to remove every
chance of fsaLure in his intentioii, Vj t^tbsw\s^\:w^^s5^
88 THE GOOD GENIUS
all night at the feast, which he was about to give in
celebration of his daughter's attaining her fifth year,
and so make sure of being with the Bee at sunrise
the following morning. After which, he would
wean himself from the luxury that he was now
nearly surfeited with, and study to regain the af-
fections of his people.
CHAPTER XVni.
Strange to say the feast day came, and Silvio was
still strong in his determination to consult the Bee
the morning after, and had accordingly directed his
coffers to be drained of their contents in celebration
of this the last of all his orgies.
The banquet was splendid to prodigality, and its
magnificence dazzled even the satiated Silvio him-
self, who seemed resolved to take a farewell of plea-
sure in a hearty and jovial way; so he threw his
whole soul into the festivity, and kept calling, in
rapid succession, for dances, music, and singing, and
singing, music, and dances, until, tired of the revelry,
THAT TUBNED EVEBYTHING INTO GOLD. 89
he commanded that they should summon the Story-
tellers. Then was heard the hearty laugh and the
spontaneous applause at the fanciful adventures
of th^ heroes of their tales. And when the royal
sides ached with the mirth, so that the King desired
a more serious theme, one whom the cunning Trea-
surer had secretly engaged, stepped forward, and
recited as follows: —
" The two elder sons of Time were the fair To-
Day and the dark To-Morrow, and they both loved
Virtue's noble daughter, the blue-eyed Duty; each
seeking her for his bride. But Duty, won by
the energy of To-Day, cared not for his younger
brother, the dreamy To-Morrow. So she mated
with the first-bom, and Virtue, her loving mother,
blessed their union. Then To-Morrow, moved by
envy, went sorrowing to his father. Time, and the
grey-beard folding him in his shadowy arms, drew
his ill-gifted boy to his bosom, and thus consoled
him; — * Grieve not, my child, that the greater
vigour of thy brother hath found more favour than
thyself in the eyes of the grave maiden. Duty —
Grieve not, for I will give unto thee, for thy partnar^
^^ THE GOOD GENIUS
gJ^y Folly; her, whose laughing looks and merry
mood hath won her countless followers, and whose
realm is all the world. And, as a dower, I decree
that twice the third part of that which belongs to
I>uty and To-Day, shall henceforth be set apart for
F0II7 and To-Morrow.' But when even-handed
Virtue heard the harsh resolve, indignant that what
was rightfully her children's should be transferred
to others, she ordained that the first -bom of Folly
aiid To-Morrow should dispossess them of their
marriage portion. And when the child was bom they
called it — Procrastination."
When Silvio beard the tale, he was moved with
Its moral; and, feeling that it had strengthened his
previous resolves, he summoned the teller of it,
that he might reward him for the story. But, as the
stranger approached the throne, Silvio, observing
that he tvas blind of the left eye, trembled, for he
saw in him an evil omen; and abruptly dismissing
him from his presence, he called for wine to drown
his foolish fears.
But scarcely had the tale-teller left the banquet-
hall, when a large banner, which hung from the
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 91
walls, fell from its fastenings, shivering, with a sharp
crash, a cluster of lamps, arranged so as their
light should resemble the Pleiades; and instantly the
assembled courtiers became white with fear, for they
felt that some dark calamity awaited them.
Silvio, seeing his Queen half fainting with the
fright^ forced a smile at what he caUed her childish
alarms, and requested her to retire. And immedi-
ately on her quitting the hall, he plunged more
deeply and madly into the pleasures of the feast.
Then, again, the palace vibrated with the dance
and the song. But the mind of Silvio was far away
from the revelry, brooding over its own gloomy fears.
And scarcely had the clock chimed midnight, when,
amidst all the festive tumult, he thought he could
distinguish a low murmuring sound, like the sea
heard at a distance; and though the music still kept
up its Bacchanalian din, yet his ears caught nothing
but the distant murmur, as it kept rumbling onward,
growing louder and louder, till at length — as he
started from his seat — it burst into one loud savage
yell.
Then instantly the music and the dance sto^jijed
92 THE GOOD GENIUS
with an hjsteric suddenness; and the limbs of all
assembled seemed locked by fear; while the halls
were silent as a tomb. Then came the loud crash of
the wrenching open of gates — then the shriek of
fury — ^and then another louder and nearer crash,
followed by the quick clinking of swords. Now the
palace shook with the slamming of doors, and re-
sounded with the rapid closing of bolts and bars —
now was heard the hurried pattering of footsteps,
along the corridor without — and now a bleeding
Mameluke, holding a broken sword, burst in, crying
" Fly, sire, fly! — the City is up, and inarms, swear-
ing death to the King and all his retainers — for
your life, sire, flyl"
Silvio, thinking only of his wife and child, rushed
rapidly to the chamber of the Queen; then seizing
his sleeping daughter, and bidding its royal mother
follow him, he flew by a secret passage to the
gardens of the palace, and creeping covertly along
them, was soon safe, with his wife and child, in the
fields, bound he knew not whither.
THAT TUBNED EVEBTTHINO INTO GOLD. 93
CHAPTER XIX.
The tumult of the insurrection had the effect of
rousing, among the other sleeping inmates, Ben
Bigo, the royal barber, who had been commanded to
tear himself from the arms of his beloved Gordi-
flonna, and to sleep in the palace; so that he might
be in readiness to mow the regal chin whenever his
Majesty should please to undergo the operation,
previous to his intended visit to the Bee.
Ben Bajo's first impression on being roused by the
noise was that the palace was on fire; and knowing
that the devouring element would make no bones of
him, he rushed to the window, under the insane im-
pression that the fire-escapes, in that or any other
country, would arrive before the whole building and
everybody in it was destroyed. But when he heard
the soothing cry of " Death to the King and all his
retainers," the barber, who felt that he was ruddled
with the royal arms, and thought that he might be
looked upon as one of the black sheep, that the \^a.-
^^ THB GOOD GENIUS
tnotic gentlemen below were so anxious to slaughter,
now saw that the only fire that was raging was one
which the poker of Discontent had stirred up in the
bosoms of the citizens. And on hearing the cry re-
peated, with a strong emphasis, on the monosyllable
" Death," Ben Bajo, being more disposed to part
with his situation than his life, began hunting about
for some means of disguise, by which he might keep
his royal office a secret from the mob; for, under the
existing circumstances, he preferred standing in any
other person's shoes to his own.
But scarcely had he commenced his search, when
the sound of approaching footsteps made him think
that retreat might be even a better safeguard than
disguise; and, although his court-dress at that mo-
ment consisted of only a night-gown and scimitar,
still, he made a vow that he would sell his life, as
dearly as he could, to the first gentleman who might
have a wish to purchase the article, and took to his
heels accordingly. Nor did he stay his flight until
he had reached one of the royal closets, and com-
fortably ensconced his body in the interior of a large
chest, which he forced open with his scimitar for the
THAT TURNED EVERTTHINO INTO GOLD. 95
occasion, and where he was safficiently valiant to
remain till all was silent again. Then lifting up the
lid of his wooden fortress, he sat upright, and began
to busy his brains once more as to the mode of
quitting an establishment, and throwing up a situ-
ation, which he now positively felt ashamed to say
that he was in any way connected with.
But whilst the royal Barber was thus musing
within himself and the chest, he felt something at
the bottom of it which kept tickling his bare legs;
and stretching out his hand to scratch the part
tickled, and inquire into the nature of the thing
tickHng it, he found tlmt he was reclining on some
hairy article, which, on leaving his retreat and fur-
ther examining, he discovered to be a complete
suit made out of goat-skin. So, thanking his stars,
Ben Bajo quickly attired himself in it, and — though
he could not help thinking the dress would look
all the better for shaving — he made the best of his
way to the street, satisfied that no one would ever
take him for a barber with so much hair about him
as that.
Here the royal Barber, for the sake of greater
^^ THE GOOD GENIUS
security, mixed in the mob, and was lustily joining
in the cry of, " Death to the King and all his re-
tainers !" when one of the patriots in the crowd re-
membered Ben Bajo's voice, from the simple fact
of having run up a slight account with him, for
sundry cuttings, curlings, and easy shavings, before
the Barber cut, curled, and shaved under the patron-
age of his Majesty; and pointing him out to the mob
as a proper' object for sunmiary justice, he instantly
went in pursuit of the royal Barber; who had no
sooner observed his late customer than, having a
sage presentiment of the patriot's desire to settle
him and his small account at one fell swoop, he had
thrown his whole soul into his legs, and made for
the woods as fast as such legs could carry him.
CHAPTER XX.
The royal Barber had some difficulty in keeping his
patriotic debtor at a respectful distance, which,
however, after the expenditure of a great deal of
wind and exertion, he ultimately succeeded in doing;
THAT TUENED EVEBYTHING INTO GOLD. 97
for having gained the woods, he plunged into the
darkness of the thickets, and soon hecame lost to sight.
Fearing, though, that he might still be " to memory
dear," he determined to remain there till the morn-
ing; and accordinglj turning into a bush, he slept upon
thorns, with the cloak of Night for a counterpane.
"When Ben Bajo rose from his prickly mattress,
on the morrow, which he did as soon as he was
roused from his slumber by the cold pig of the
morning dew, he began to contemplate the inconve-
niences of his situation; and found that, among other
bereavements, it had not only deprived him of serv-
ing his king, but abo of that delicious cup of coffee
which his darling Gordiflonna always had ready for
him at daybreak — and which latter bereavement his
stomach told him he felt the more deeply of the two.
The air and exercise, too, that he had lately taken
had also induced an appetite that led him to believe
he could do equal justice to the remains of that fowl
he had promised himself to have had grilled for
his breakfast this morning.
Instead of which, here he was compelled to go
wandering about the wood with his stomach growl-
98 THE GOOD GENIUS
ing away like a hungry lion, seeking what on earth
it could devour; and so he continued doing till, tired
of an excursion which only served to sharpen
the edge of his appetite upon the magic strop
of the morning air, he sat down and conunenced
grumbling at the inhospitality of the place, vowing
that he had never come near such a wood. What was
to become of him he didn't know. There he must
sit, he supposed, and gutter away with starvation
till all his fat was consumed. As for his Gordi-
Aonna, he'd warrant she'd take good care to have her
breakfast before she began to tear her hair and look
after him — that was the sex all the world over! But
surely there must be somethivg eatable to be found
somewhere about the wood. He only wished to good-
ness he could stumble over a fruit-tree, that was all!
The wish had no sooner escaped from his lips than
the royal Barber was pitched headlong on the ground;
while a wild cry of *^ Behold!" rang through the air.
On looking round, the bewildered Ben Bajo saw that
the stem of a tree had shot up in the place where he
had just now stood, and as he stared at the magic
sapling, it rose higher and higher, now darting out
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 99
branch after branch, and now putting forth buds,
which, bursting open, spread into dark green leaves,
while amid them he could see white pearl-like blos-
soms gradually peeping out ; and the air around
became fragrant with the perfume poured out of the
ivory cups of the opening flowers, whose leaves
shortly fell, like flakes of snow, in a silver shower to
the earth. Then, where the blossoms had been,
little bright green knobs bulged out, and swelled
and swelled until the branches bent down in graceful
curves beneath their emerald load; and then the
green hue of the fruit ripened into the red-yellow of
the orange, which hung heavily from the boughs,
like large balls of gold.
The Barber, half stupified with wonder at the
sight, now perceived that, by some magic power,
he had been made to stumble over the very object
he had desired; so, thanking his lucky stars, he sat
himself down beside the tree, and began to make a
breakfast off the fruit.
While Ben Bajo was thus enjoying himself, the
Bee appeared to him, and informing him that he
was indebted to her for his repast, said that she
h2
100 THE QOOD GENIUS
should be happy to wait upon him at any future
time, provided he came to her in the fields at sun-
rise, attired in the goat-skin dress which he then
had on. The Barber, delighted at the honour of
making the acquaintance of so good-natured a friend,
thanked the little Fairy kindly for her polite atten-
tion, and promised, since she seemed to be so parti-
cular about his costume, to take great cigre of the
dreiss, and pay her another visit at the earliest
opportunity.
CHAPTER XXI.
The deposed King, fearing to rest, though dropping
with fatigue under the weight of his still sleeping
child, and cheering on his timid Queen, went wan-
dering along the woods by the mountain side, seeking
some shelter where they might pass the night in
secret; and at length reached the mouth of a cave.
Here he left his little girl in the care of her royal
mother, while he went out in search of some rushes
for their bed; and cutting some with his scimitar,
he quickly returned with them, and strewed them
as a couch for the night. When the morning
INTO GOLH. JOl
came, he collected 8ome dry faggots, and bvilbe,
berries, and wild fruits; and, having lighted a
fire, by the aid of his sword and it fragment of
the rock, he was busily engaged in i-oasting some
1
102 THE GOOD GENIUS
roots for their morning meal, when his Queen, who
in her sleep had half forgotten the troubles of the
previous night, rose from her couch of rushes, and
grew melancholy on finding their palace had be-
come a cave, and the King, her servant. For she
thought how useless Silvio would find her there, and
that he might get to find her a burden before she
could learn to be a help to him; and then remem-
bering her father's curse, she felt this was the punish-
ment of her disobedience*
It was a strange sight to see a Monarch and his
consort, sit huddled round some lighted sticks,
making their morning meal ofi* a few burnt roots of
the earth, and yet decked out, as for a feast, in
robes of rich velvet, lined with ermine, with their
crowns of gold glittering with jewels — the smallest
of which would have furnished a sumptuous repast.
But there King Silvio sat feeding his child, and con-
soling his Amaranth with assurances of the speedy
return of their former comforts. And yet, when the
half eaten meal was ended, Silvio proved how little
faith he himself placed in the hopes he had held out
to his spouse, by stripping the furry lining from his
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 103
royal robe, so that it might make a warm covering
for his wife and child, in the cave at night. As
he grew melancholy with his thoughts over the
task, Amaranth in her turn solaced him, and
pointed out how, even if things came to the worst,
the jewels and gold they had about them would be
quite sufficient to place them beyond the wants of
the world for the remainder of their days.
"But, sweet one," sighed the deposed King,
" you require something more than the mere wants
of the world. A bare sufficiency would be penury
to you."
" Silvio!" she returned, " you know me as little
as I once knew myself. As a maiden, I laughed at
the romance of love; but, as a wife and a mother, I
have learnt its reality."
" What, then," said the proud husband, " can the
Princess Amaranth, who was ^ pampered in a palace,
now find contentment in a cottage?' "
" Yes!" she answered, " and in a cave, with the
father of my child. While I was the Princess
Amaranth, I knew only the pleasures of the world
around me, for I had yet to learn the greater
^^ THE GOOD GENIUS
happiness of the undiscovered world of my own
heurt within me. But you, Silvio, have opened to
me feelings which— which— I can't describe them—
I only know I wish for no other luxury than to
share your sorrows."
And so they went on chatting together, running
over all possible ways and means of managing for the
luture. At one time, Silvio was to creep back at
mght to the palace, and get the magic dress again;
yet, on second thoughts, this was hardly prudent,
for the royal robes would be sure to betray him. At
another time they were to sell the jewels they had
about them, and Silvio was to start as a merchant
m a distant city, and they were to send messengers
to offer a reward for the restoration of the goat-skin
suit; but then the fact of offering a reward would
betray its value, even if it hadn't been discovered
before. At last the Princess carried the day, by
proposing that they should sell their jewels as soon
as possible, and go and live happily in the stone
cottage by the mountain side, where Silvio had first
* dared' to say he loved her. But the difiiculty
was, how they were to'turn the precious stones into
<mey, Silvio could never go to^^ citj as he was«
THAT TURNED EVEBYTHING INTO GOLD. 105
that was clear; so she would go veiled. Yet that
would be as bad as his going, for thej would be
sure to see her robes notwithstauding. At last the
Princess had it. Little Azuria should go, for she
was sure the pet might be trusted, and would be
certain to do whatever her Father told her, as she
was quite a little woman in her ways.
The point once settled, Silvio spent the evening
in picking out the jewels of his crown and scimitar,
and instructing his little girl to mind and take great
care of the precious stones, and not to speak to anj
one on her way, nor to tell who she was, or where
she came from to a single soul, on any pretence
whatever; for that, if she did so, the people would
come and kill him and her mother. And he described
to her the Jew and the Bazaar she was to go to, and
told her she was to bring back five hundred pieces of
gold. And, moreover, she was to see that no one
followed her; and he and her Mother, in the morn-
ing, would wait at the eiitrance of the wood till she
returned.
As soon as the little one had retired to rest, the
Queen Amaranth occupied herself, by the light of
the burning fagg^ witli di&ft^Mi\ix^ «£A T^\stfs<\sss^
106 THE GOOD GENIUS
from the child's dress all traces of its royal rank;
and, in the moming, thej both accompanied their
little messenger as far through the wood as safely
would allow, where again going over the last night's
instructions and cautions, thej dismissed her on her
errand with a kiss, and sat down, satisfied that she
would do all they had told her, to await her return.
During her absence they settled how happy
they were to be in their mountain home, and passed
the time in going through all the different articles
they should want to buy with the money.
Suddenly they saw their child running towards
them with tears streaming down her cheeks, and
sobbing so, that it was not until they reached the
cave that they could obtain any distinct account of
what had occurred. Then they gathered from the
little thing that she had been to the gentleman, and
had spoken to no one, she was sure, on the road, and
that she had given him the things, and said she wanted
five hundred pieces of gold, when he only called her
ever so many bad names, and asked her where she
had got them; and that she said she was told not to
tell; and then the gentleman said she had stolen them.
THAT TURNED BVEBYTHING INTO GOLD. 107
and she began crying, and said she was sure she
hadn't, for they were her father's; and then the gen^
tleman laughed at her, and said that if she didn't go
away he would give her to the soldiers, and have her
locked up in a dark hole; and then she was so
frightened lest they should kill her Father and
Mother, that she ran off from the gentleman, and she
was sure no one had followed her. And then sobbing
as if her little heart was broken, she clung to her
Father, who, savage with himself for having entrusted
all he possessed in the world to the care of one so
simple, handed the child over to its Mother, and
burying his face in his hands, was dumb with despair.
It was a hard struggle for the King to find
enough for the wants of his family in so barren a
place, even during the summer; though what with
now a stray nest of young birds, and now a rabbit
caught in a snare, and now coming upon a tree of
nuts or wild fruit, they managed to weather out the
autumn. But when the winter came, even this scanty
fare failed them, and the Monarch found his Queen
and royal daughter starving.
K)8 THE GOOD GENIUS
Nor could Silvio jBee any brighter hopes than a
lingering death to relieve them from their sufferings.
Amaranth sought to rouse him to energy, but all
he answered was, What could he do? If they re-
turned to the city their lives were at stake — if they
journeyed to other parts, they must perish on the
road — if they stopped in the cave they must starve.
Death dogged them every way. What could he do?
Again Amaranth thought of her Father's curse,
but, seeing that her lord was sinking into apathy,
she strived to stir him by every means, and among
others, by a tale which was one of the first lessons
taught her by her Father.
" There was once upon a time a good little dwarf
named Try, who was so powerful that he overcame
almost everything he attempted; and yet he was so
small and ill-favoured, that people laughed when
they were told of his wondrous powers. But the
tiny man was so kind at heart, and loved so much
to serve his unfortunate and desponding brethren,
that he would go and beg of those who knew him
better to intercede for him, so that he might be
allowed to help them out of their troubles; and
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 109
when oDce he had made them happy by his noble
deeds, thej no longer despised him or drove him
from them with sneers, but loved him as their
truest friend. Yet the only return this good dwarf
sought for all his services, was that when they heard
of any one who wanted a helping hand, they would
say a good word in his favour, and recommend them
to— 'Try.'"
Silvib, excited by the fable, determined to put
faith in the power of the dwarf, and, pondering over
his circumstances, made up his mind for one ad-
venturous risk on the morrow.
CHAPTER XXn.
During all this time, Ben Bajo, who had returned
to the city immediately quiet was restored, had been
very particular in his attentions to the Bee, and
finding he possessed the means of procuring what-
ever he wished, had begun by asking her for a
hundred pieces of gold. This he had carefully put
away under one of the stones of his cellar, for he
viewed it as a sacred store against want in his old
110 THE GOOD GENIUS
age; and he was anxious to keep it a secret fromi hia
wife, whose love of silks and satins was a continual,
dread to him; and from whom he also concealed the.
properties of the goat-skin dress, lest from he^
chattering disposition, its magic power should be-
come known, and he should be waylaid on his road
to the Bee some morning, and be robbed of it.
Then, every day, he went into the cellar to see
liiat the gold was still under the stone, and counted
over all the pieces to satisfy himself that none had
been taken away; his hand trembling all the while,
lest any person should come down there, and surprise
him over the hoard. But soon he began to think that
should any one find out the treasure and purloin it,
he would be left to beg when he could no longer
work; so if he had another such a sum, he could
hide it in a separate place; and it wasn't likely that
they should discover the two. Though, when he got
the second hundred pieces, and had stowed them
away in his other cellar, in a similar manner to the
first, he was still as fearful of penury as before; and
each day, as he went to feast his eyes upon them,
and counted them over and over, he fancied that
THAT TURNED EVEEYTHING INTO GOLD. Ill
thieves might come, and finding the one would seek
the other; and so he would be left to starve, after all.
Then he got five hundred pieces more, and
buried them under the stone of the hearth in his
shop, where he could always have his eye upon
them. But the proximity of the treasure to the fire
now set him wondering what would become of him,
if the house should happen to be burned down; and
again the spectre TVant was at his heels, and he
determined to have a thousand pieces more, and
bury them in the garden. And so he did, and another
thousand too, and another thousand after that; for
the richer he became, the poorer he saw himself in
his old age; and the more he had, the more he
coveted, and the greater grew his dread of future
want.
So he went on getting hoard aflter hoard from the
Bee, until he had filled every out-of-the-way nook
and comer of the house, and piled up the treasure
in high heaps in his cellars. Still, in his daily visits
there, even though the gold was up to his very
knees, he felt assured that he would come to want
bread in the end. And, ever haunted by the pros-
1^2 THE GOOD GENIUS
pecty he parted with the smallest piece of silTer as
though it was his heart's blood, and stinted himself
and Gordiflonna of almost the common necessaries of
life, making her believe that the reverses of the
King had left him in the most abject porerty; for
his jaundiced ejes now saw gold in everjthing, and
even eating bread was deyouring money.
CHAPTER XXm.
The Barber had been called out on professional
business, and Gordiflonna determined to avail her-
self of his absence, just to clear out the shop a little,
for the place was an inch thick in dirt — that it was.
There was enough hair about it to stuff a mat-
tress. She was positively ashamed to see any one
come into it. If they were poor, for goodness' sake
let them be cleanly ! So to work she went, sweep-
ing, scrubbing, and dusting; and when she had got
the floor off her mind, she paid her attention to the
fireplace.
As she began to wash the hearth, she was sur-
THAT TURNED EVERTTHINO INTO GOLD. 113
prised to find the stone loose — ^but that was just like
Ben Bajo. He'd let it remain so until it was broken
—she never knew such a man! Just in his penny-
wise way, to save a ha'porth of mortar. She sup-
posed it would never be done, unless she looked to it
herself. Accordingly she stepped out, and begged
a dishfull of mortar; for Ben Bajo would make a
pretty noise if she went running up a bill for a trifle
like that.
When she lifted up the stone and saw the hoard
of gold under it, her delight and surprise at finding
it, were only equal to her wonder and curiosity as
to how it could ever have come there; though
she quickly settled the matter by assuring herself
that it must have belonged to that strange man who
had lived in the house before them, and had dis-
appeared so suddenly. Then she began to think
how she should astonish Ben Btgo when he came
home. She would tell him that thieves had broken
into the house whilst she had stepped out; and have
a good laugh at him before she gave him the gold.
No, she wouldn't. He was so stingy, and always
made such a fuss about parting with his money^ thai
1
1^4 THE GOOD GENIUS
she was sure he would be much better without it;
so she would take care of, it herself, and not let him
know anything about it; but give him a piece at a
time as he wanted it. Besides, it would be hard in*
deed if, after finding all that heap of gold, she couldn't
have even so much as a trumpery new dress out of it.
He shouldn't have the opportunity, though, of saying
that she was selfish, for she would surprise him with
a new suit of clothes when he came home. She de-
clared she was quite ashamed to see him go about
the figure he was. And as for that beastly hairy old
suit that he went out in every morning, and which
made him look more like a wild man of the woods
than a human being, she'd take care that he shouldn't
have it in his power to say that he was obliged to
wear it, because he couldn't afibrd to buy others ; for
she'd burn the thing, and get him some good, strong,
decent-looking, serviceable clothes instead.
With a bundle of faggots under her arm, the
Barber's wife went up stairs to get the magic dress,
and light the fire that was to destroy it. But the
chimney seemed to have a strong objection to any-
thing of the kind; perhaps the smoke of the fire was
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 115
disagreeable to it, or perhaps it was so unaccustomed
to smoking, that the clouds the fire blew out were
too much for it; but, whether or no, certain it was
that it kept driving them back as fast as the fire
kept puffing them out, as if, like an asthmatic old
gentleman, it objected to the fumes getting into its
throat. So that, in a short time the room was in
such a fog, that Gordiflonna was forced, in self-de-
fence, to open the window for a mouthful of fresh air.
On the opposite side of the way stood a poor man,
with his face hid bj his hands, and whose singular
and tattered condition attracted the attention of the
Barber's wife; for one so fond of dress as she was
could hardly help being struck with the eccentricity
of the stranger's apparel.
And certainly poor Silvio's costume must have
looked a little peculiar. He was wrapt up close in
his robes, which he had stripped of all their royal
trimmings, and turned inside out; so that the wrong
side of the velvet looked as coarse as serge, excepting
where a torn piece hung down and showed the
crushed pile of the stuff. His shoes, too, were all
burst in holes, and coated so t ^ud^l^Nsa^^
116 THE GOOD GENIUS
was only by a speck or two that one could have told
they had originally been made of white satin. And
he had torn all the ornaments from his crown till
It had more the appearance of a weather-beaten cap
than a kingly coronal.
Gordiflonna, wondering who he was — and what
he was — and where he came from — and why he
stood there — went down to the door, and calling
him over to her, asked him what he was weeping
about.
Silvio told her that his wife and child were
starving.
" Then more shame for you!" exclaimed the
Barber's wife. " If I was a strong hale man, like
you, I'd sooner work my hands off than let a poor
woman and her innocent baby come to want."
Silvio said he wished he could.
" Don't tell me!" returned Gordiflonna the
Dressy; "you're too lazy by half — you are. And I'll
be bound to say that, if the truth was known, you
hav'n't got a wife and child at all; but go about
dressed in this way just to excite people's compas-
«ion; and make a very good trade of it, too."
THAT TURNED EVEEYTHING INTO GOLD. 117
Silvio declared that he was willing to work, if he
could only get employment.
"Ah, that's what you all say!" replied Gordi-
flonna. " How do you think you can get employ-
ment if you stand here begging in the streets? Why
don't you go and seek it? I suppose you think the
work will come to you — eh?"
Silvio said he had been all the morning looking
for some; but that people only laughed at him,
dressed as he was.
" So, that's it ! — is it?" continued the Barber's
wife; " then you shan't have that excuse much
longer. Though I daresay, if one could see through
you, it's only some money, to go and get drunk with,
that you want, after all. Well, if I give you some
clothes now, will you promise me that I shall never
see you in the streets in that state again?"
Silvio assured her that indeed she should not.
Gordiflonna soon returned with a bundle in her
hand, and saying there were the things, she told the
royal mendicant, that if he went and sold them she
would have him well bastinadoed — that she would.
When she untied the napkin, and exhibited to
118 THE GOOD GENIUS
Silvio the goat-skin dress, he uttered a wild cry of
joy, and, snatching it to him, darted off like a
maniac, leaving the astonished Gordiflonna to de-
clare that she never came nigh such an ill-mannered
brute — not even to say as much as " Thank you," for
the suit. Well! he was no better than he should be,
she knew.
CHAPTER XXIV.
The cave was soon reached by Silvio, who, shaking
the magic dress frantically in the face of his wife,
laughed — now hollowly — now shrilly — as he jab-
bered over how he had found it again — and how all
their troubles were at an end — and how they'd feast
and be merry as the day was long — and how he'd
make the good old dame who gave it him back,
a Princess — and how he loved his wife a thousand
times more dearly for what she had suffered — and
how she should never want for the least thing again
— and how he*d go himself and make her father, King
Vejez, forgive her — and how they would be happy!
happy! happy! And then laughing wildly, he
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 119
clasped his wife in his arms, and hugged her and
kissed her, whilst she sobbed hysterically, till Silvio,
catching the infection, grew sober with tears.
All this while the little blue-eyed Azuria — at
times half joining in her father's laugh — at others,
half frightened by his shouts — sat close to the fire
where she had been burning some of the old feathers
that lay about the cave, and gnawing the quills as
she charred them. But when she heard her parents',
half-choked sobs, she crept to her mother's side, and
looking up at her with streaming eyes, pulled at her
robes, as if asking to share the grief.
The delirium of delight having subsided, then
came the dreadful long night of craving. There
was but one half-eaten root, and little Azuria had
that. To-morrow, profusion — ^to night, starvation!
They had always had something for supper, and
appetite, true to its time, gnawed, rat-like, within
them. Amaranth sat crouching over the fire,
trying to think of other things; but Silvio, restless
with the knagging of his hunger, paced up and
down the cave like a wild beast in its den.
In eleven hours, every luxury would be his; and
120 THE GOOD GENIUS
yet — jesl he would sell it all now for a crust of
bread.
But as the greedy paroxysms wore off, and left
behind them the sickness and faintness of failing
nature, the gloomy depression of debility came
on, and Silvio saw in the dress the cause of all
his misery. Without it, he would have been the
happy Woodman still, and now, what was he? — a
starving Monarch with a starving Queen. Perhaps,
after all, it was better to sit down there and die.
Soon the qualms ceased, and the depression gave
way to sleep. Then Silvio dreamt that he was
lying in a garden, with ripe and tempting fruit
hanging within arm's length of him; but he was
bound hand and foot, and could not stir a limb to
pluck one. Parched with thirst, too, he heard
around him the gurgling of fountains he had not
the power to reach ; and though he felt the spray of
their waters sprinkling his face, still not a drop fell
into his burning and wide-stretched mouth; and he
gasped and gasped to catch some, until, maddened
with the torment, he made one violent effort, and
bursting his bonds, he found — his pale wife watching
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 121
patiently by his side, and the light of dawn, like a
grey patch, marking the mouth of their dark cave.
"Thank God!— thank God!" cried Silvio, "the
night is past!" And hurriedly attiring himself in
the goat-skin dress, he sallied out to summon the
Bee, and kept on calling and calling until the sun
rose, and she appeared.
"Ah, poor Silvio!" said the Fairy, "you have
paid dearly for your neglect of me. Experience is
a harsh and expensive schoolmaster, my friend, but
he teaches us lessons which, though hard to learn,
are difficult to forget. But I'm glad to see you out
in the fields at sunrise again, and what shall I do for
you, eh?"
Silvio told her that he first wished for food for
his family in the cave, and then to be restored to his
throne.
" I see," cried the Bee; " you want a meal and a
kingdom. I should have thought you had been
sickened of the love of power by this time."
. " No," returned Silvio, " I have a greater desire
for it than ever. Formerly I abused it by employ-
ing it as the instrument of my own elevation, but
122 THE GOOD GENIUS
now I wish to make amends by using it for the
elevation of others."
" Ah! there you are," replied the Bee, " running
into extremes— one year a tyrant, the next, a phi-
lanthropist. "Well, perhaps, as the world goes, they
are frequently made out of the same stuff— only the
one is the showy side of the other."
Silvio said that the Bee should judge him by his
after deeds.
" Ay!" she exclaimed, " we shall see; though I'm
afraid, Silvio, you'll find it is more difficult to act a
poem than to conceive one. You had better take
my advice, and let your future kingdom be your
own fireside, and rule in the hearts of your children
instead of your people's. The sphere is quite wide
enough, and the revenue a royal one, believe me, if
the government is wise."
" But," said Silvio, " is a man's love for his fellow-
creatures to be penned in by the circle of his own
hearth?"
" This parable," returned the Bee, " shall answer
you: —
" One who possessed boundless wealth, willed it
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 123
to a certain Father in trust for that Father's wife,
and such of his children as were worthy of it; and
the remainder, if any, to such of the Father's friends
as merited it; and, after that, if anything remained,
it was to be given to such of the Father's neighbours
as needed it; and if there were a further remainder,
then it was to be bestowed in charity to such as
were of the Father's country; and even if, after that,
(so boundless was his wealth) there were any re-
mainder still, then in charity to those of other
lands. But the Father was vain, and being greedy
of applause, gave to the world before he gave to his
family; so that when his wife and children found
that he had deprived them of their due, they
turned from him and left him, and became a curse
instead of a blessing to him. And soon this was
whispered abroad, when the world said, — How
can he care for us, so distant, since he hath neg-
lected those who are so near to him? Surely, he
hath broken the trust that was placed in him, for he
hath given the whole for fame when he should have
bestowed but a part in charity. And so they con-
demned him instead of applauding him for his act;
124 THE GOOD GENIUS
and did not even so much as thank him for what he
had given them. Judge you, now, whether the
decree was just; for the treasure willed to him was
love, and the one who willed it, God.
" So that you see, Silvio, Love is of so domestic a
turn of mind, that if ever you find anything like him
gadding abroad, make sure that it is Love, and not
Vanity, masquerading. Now, beware how you let
yours go roaming!"
Silvio assured the Bee that his troubles had taught
him to love his wife and child even more devoutly
than he did before; and she should see that they
would teach him to love his subjects too. So he
would have the Kingdom, if she pleased.
" Well! if you will, you shall. And now, as
that's all settled, you had better run away; for you
are only keeping your breakfast and the Queen wait-
ing; and I will take care that, by the time you have
done eating, you can begin ruling."
THAT TURNED EVEBTTHINO INTO GOLD. 125
CHAPTER XXV.
Whilst Silvio had been in the cave, his city had
been nearly as badly off as himself; for it had
fallen into the hands of the Patriots and Philanthro-
pists, who^advocating the rights of the abstract
Man — and vowing that the institutions of the country
should no longer be for the benefit of the few at the
expense of the many — ^had set up the mob-cap of
Liberty, declaring that the laws of Nature should be
repealed, and that the Grenius and the Idiot should
henceforth be equal. And as there are two things
that every man fancies he can do better than
another, — viz., mix a salad and govern a country,
the whole population of the town now sought to
have a finger in the national pie, and the City was put
under the management of a Convention, composed
of benevolent minded Bakers, fine spirited Cobblers,
deep thinking Tailors, ^d heroic Cow-keepers,
overflowing with the milk of human t'«''nftga^
126 THE GOOD GENIUS
who, though voting the love of power a low thing,
still were ready to make any sacrifice rather than see
their fellow countrymen crushed beneath the chariot-
wheels of a Juggernaut Oligarchy; while meetings
were held by the sons in every house, and it was
unanimously resolved, that each family should be
declared a republic, and that the supremacy of
fathers should henceforth be numbered among the
foUies of the past.
When the time came for the election of the
President of the city, though each of the Patriots
scorned the filthy dross attached to the office, and
had an innate hatred of authority, yet there were so
many candidates who were ready to sacrifice every-
thing to become the humble instrument of benefiting
their fellow creatures, that the fraternal love which
was to reign throughout the capital began to change
into the cat and dog contentions of party. And when
the deep thinking Tailor was chosen Prime Brother
of the Happy Family, his first act of philanthropy
was to take the duties ofi* all articles connected with
tailoring, and make up for the deficiency in the
revenue by laying imposts upon the commodities of
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 12?
all other trades; taking care, at the same time, to
show that he hadn't forgotten the opposition of the
benevolent minded Baker, by paying double attention
to bread. But the fraternal protection of the deep
thinking Tailor did not give general satisfaction to
the community, and the benevolent minded Baker
was soon elected Prime Brother in his stead. His
first step was to turn his mind to a more equitable
arrangement of the tariff, and to foresee, that, in a
short time, there must be a famine in the land.
Whereupon, he had an honest conviction that the
only way to relieve his suffering brethren was to
repeal the bread tax, and to lay a heavy duty in its
stead on every commodity connected with tailoring.
Still the Happy Family were far from content with
the philanthropic dominion of the benevolent minded
Baker; so they sought another, and another, until at
last they had a new "Prime Brother'* per week,
and soon found that they had jumped out of the
fryingpan of Monarchy into the red-hot fire of
Bepublicanism.
In this state of things, heralds entered the city,
proclaiming the return of King Silvio to the capital;
128 THE GOOD GENIUS
and the people, glad to be freed from the thraldom
of Liberty, instantly proceeded to welcome the
Monarch back with eyery sign of public rejoicing.
They canopied over the streets with numy*
coloured silks, and suspended across them monster
variegated lamps and flags worked with gold; while
they coloured the fronts of their houses in broad red
and yellow stripes, and decorated their doors with
gay paintings of flowers. The different tradesmen
hung out, before their shops and windows, shawls
of the brightest patterns, and brocades, and rich
dresses, and all kinds of costly articles of merchan-
dize. The path leading to the palace was covered
with crimson velvet, on which were strewn white
roses; and as the glittering car, bearing Silvio, his
Queen, and child, rolled noiselessly over it, the air
was made fragrant with the perfumes of burning
ambergris and aloes wood, and tremulous with music;
while, as he passed through the crowd, the Patriots
and Philanthropists, who, scarcely a year back, had
vowed death to the King and all his retainers,
shouted themselves hoarse with " Long live Silvio,
the Father of the City of the Diamond Waters!"
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 129
When the bustle of the couqtless addresses of
coDgratulation, and equally countless thanks for
pardon, was over, Silvio continually sought the Bee
for all such things as he fancied might minister to
the comforts of his subjects; and, stimulating them,
to all good actions by rewards, he won them
from all bad ones by love^— punishing them with
kindness. And remembering the counsel of his
fairy friend, he gave his evenings to his homCi
after having devoted the day to his country; so that
he guided as a Father, and governed as a Friend.
Then the capital became known, far and near,
under his gentle sway, as the blessed " City of the
Diamond Waters," for there all dwelt in peace and
joy, but
CHAPTER XXVL
When Ben Bajo, the barber, found that he bad lost
the magic dress, he became a raving maniac.
Gordiflonna, for her own safety, was forced to
put him under restraint, and re^najbed as ienorant
130 THE GOOD GENIUS
of the value of the dress she had parted with, as
she did of the treasure that was hidden in her house.
But though the means employed to confine the
Madman seemed heavier than his weak frame re-
quired, still, his fury was such that one day he burst
from them, and rushing wildly from his chamber, dis-
appeared, no one knew whither. Grordiflonna, finding
that he had not been seen to leave the house, sought
him in every part of it, and hearing a jingling sound
proceed from one of the cellars, she looked into it,
and discovered the mad Miser seated amidst his
gold, toying with the treasure, taking it up in hand-
fuls, and letting it run through his fingers, like a
child playing with sand, while he laughed and
talked to it in an incoherent manner. When the
bewildered Gordiflonna recovered from the wonder
of the wealth, she advanced cautiously towards her
husband, and found that the fury of the Madman
had left him; and that, soothed by the touch and
music of his money, he had grown meek and harm-
less as an Idiot.
Perceiving that this was the best means of allaying
his paroxysms, the insane Miser was furnished with
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 131
some brass counters to play with, and allowed to
hide them where he liked, and to creep away un-
noticed to fondle them in secret. Though often he
would rush back from where he had been toying
with the treasured bits of brass, and, trembling like
a leaf, would slam the door violently after him; and
pushing against it, would call upon Gordiflonna to
come and help him to keep off the skeleton who was
outside, and wanted to get in and kill him. Then
she would humour him, and pretend to scare the
spectre away; but the paroxysm would return, and
again she would have to put him under restraint.
In time, however, the paroxysms subsided, under
the kindness of his wife's treatment, when the Miser
settled into a confirmed Monomaniac. And though
he was still haunted by the skeleton, yet, whenever
he laboured under the delusion, his wife could cheat
him into the belief that she had driven it from the
house; and she gave him one of the brass counters,
with a hole in it, to wear round his neck, as a charm
to keep the spectre from him. Then returned the
Miser's former parsimony, and eating food seemed
to his perverted mind no longer to b^ Kite. \ssj^» \Rfc
k2
132 THE GOOD GENIUS
be literally devouring gold; for what was once the
Miser's fancy, now became tlie Madman's reality.
So that every artifice, and even force, was required
^o be used to get him to take any nourishment what-
ever; for unless he was keenly watched he would
stow away, in strange corners, all the bits of meat
or bread that he, by his cunning, could abstract,
unnoticed, from his meals; and these he would carty
to the places where he had previously hidden his
money; until, at length, the pile of mildewed crustsi
and pieces of dried meat, and broken sweetmeats,
and clots of rice, made a heap nearly as large as
his treasure once did. And here, whenever he could
steal away, the mad Miser would sit and feast his
eyes, and toy with the mouldy hoard, as formerly he
loved to feast his eyes and toy with his gold.
But Nature at last began to sink under her
constant deprivations; for the Miser, to keep away
the skeleton that he fancied was lying in wait for
him, kept stinting himself, more and more, until at
length he died the very death that had haunted him,
and which he had become the Miser to pi^vent.
* « « * *'# * «
\
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 133
When the King, in gratitude, sent for Gordiflonna
to rewarcl her for the dress she had restored to him,
she was the richest and showiest widpw in the Citjr
of the Diamond Waters.
CHAPTER XXVII.
In the happy City of the Diamond Waters all dwelt
in peace and joy, but — ^her who should have been the
gladdest there — Amaranth, the Ever-young.
She had borne misery almost with a smile, and
now prosperity came she welcomed it with a sigh.
Whilst in the cave her sympathy was given to her
Husband; but, returned to the palace, her thoughts
stole away to Corallion; and often, when Silvio was
engaged in the business of ruling, she would think of
all her father's early fondlings. She would run over
eveiy trivial act of kindness he had shown her, and
recall each of his birth-day gifts to her; and how he
used to come and sit with her of an evening, and tell
her fables and stories; and then she would remember
that, when a child, she used to tell him that she
134 THE GOOD GENIUS
would never marry, but always stop with him; and
how, as his black hair grew white with years, he used
to say, that now her Mother was gone, she was the
only thing on earth he loved, and he knew not what
he should do in his old age without her; and then
she would fancy whether he looked much older, and
whether his figure was still as upright as it used to
be; and who sang to him of an evening, now she
was gone; and she would reproach herself with her
neglect of him, adding, that, as a King, he had many
flatterers, but no friends; while she would wonder
what he would say to her if she went back to him ;
and whether he would turn from her; and then call-
ing to mind that the last words she had heard him
speak were his threatened curses, if she ever thought
of him whose wife she had become, she would burst
into tears, and sit and sob until the time came
for King Silvio to return home, when she would
bathe her eyes, lest they should appear red, and her
Husband observe that she had been weeping.
But the attentive Silvio was not long in discover-
ing the grief the Princess sought to hide, and though
he continually strove, by every artifice, to learn tlfe
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 135
cause of it, yet Amaranth, fearing that he might
fancy she regretted her union with him, had not the
heart to tell him; and even when she could no longer
resist his importunities, she wanted the courage to
do so directly, and so broke it to him, in the Eastern
manner, by an allegory.
" It is related that the Sea-shell was the favourite
daughter of the Wave; and that he watched over
her with love, shielding her from injury; and folded
her in his bosom, and cherished her as his best be-
loved, ever whispering the music of affection in her
ear. Now the Sea-shell loved the noble Hock upon
the shore; but the Wave and the Rock were enemies,
battling with each other; so that when the haughty
Wave found out the love of his rosy-lipped child, he
spoke in a voice of i^age to her thus: — 'If thou
sighest to wed with yonder Hock, I will cast thee
from my bosom, and turn from thee. Go where thou
wilt, my anger shall haunt thee, and ever ring in
thy ear.' But the Shell loved on, and the swelling
Wave dashed her from him. And though the sted-
fast Rock cherished his ocean Bride with every
kindness, and kept her always by his side, still the
136 THE GOOD OSNIUS
l^ell pined in sorrow; for, as her white-headed Sire
had daid^ the anger of the Wave kept e^er haunting
her, and ringing in her ear."
Silvio, seeing the purpose of the fiction, consoled
his Queen, by promising to take snch steps as could
not fail to regain the affection of her royal Father.
But scarcely had he and Amaranth arranged what
choice presents they should send to King Yejez, the
ISilver-hair^d, when merchants, travelling to the
city, brought news that the old Monarch lay dan-
gerously ill, and had offered to grant whatever the
Physician who cured him might ask.
Fearful that the sadness might overwhelm his
Wife, Silvio forbad aU the inmates of the palace
from mentioning it to her, and resolved on seeking
the aid of the Bee the next morning.
THAT TUENED BVEEYTHING INTO GOLD. 137
CHAPTER XXVin.
"What! your majesty here again! You seem de-
termined not to let me have one morning's rest, I
declare/' said the little Bee, in answer to Silvio's sum-
mons on the morrow. " Well, your misfortunes cer-
tainly appear to have been the best bit of fortune
that could have happened to you. Whom do you want
me to serve now — ^your subjects, or your family?"
Silvio, informing the Bee of the illness of Ama-
ranth's royal Father, replied that he wished to
learn the means of curing him.
" Ah !" she returned, " now you puzzle me.
As I told you before, I don't invent, I only execute.
You must be the Architect of your own fortunes,
and I will be the Builder. Besides, cousin Yejez and
myself don*t agree very well. He doesn't like my
ways, you see — isn't accustomed to me, I suppose.
You, yourself, Silvio, if you remember, were half
afraid of me at first; though I don't think I annoy
people very much when they know me either."
Silvio, assented with a compliment, and said that
13S THE GOOD GENIUS
since it was beyond the Bee's power to point out
the means of curing the King, he knew not what he
should do.
" Why," returned the little Fairy, ** I should say
the first thing you had better do, before you try
your hand at medicine, is to make yourself well ac-
quainted with the sciences of Anatomy, Botany,
Chemistry, Physiology, Nosology, Pathology, and the
whole circle of the 'Ologies. Though I don't mean
to say," she added, " that these are absolutely ne-
cessary. For there are many doctors I could tell you
of, who have done wonders with merely a bald head,
a pair of spectacles, and a carriage."
Silvio shook his head, as if he could hardly credit
the assertion.
" Bless your heart !" continued the Bee, " that's
nothing to the miracles that are continually being
worked in medicine. Why, there are well authen-
ticated testimonials to prove that a quartern loaf
made up into pills is a safe and speedy cure for
every known disease. But, however, as I suppose
you're nonsensical enough to want to know some-
thing about the matter before you play with so
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 139
ticklish a thing as life, Til just give you a peep
behind the curtain of Nature, so that you may have
an insight into the mechanism of the Heavens and
the Earth; and then leave you to apply the know-
ledge as you yourself may think best."
And so saying she hummed the following charm —
*' Quick ! let him read the Rocks ! and see
In them the Earth's Biography!
Discover Stars heyond the sight !
Weigh them ! — and time the speed of Light !
"Within the dew-drop's tiny sphere
Let Animalcule Worlds appear !
Each puny Monster let him scan,
Then mark the Animalcule Man !
And tracing use in great and small,
See Good in each ! and God in all !"
Then Silvio was lifted up in the air, and carried
by winged spirits far into the realms of space, until
the world beneath him dwindled into a star, and the
stars above him swelled into worlds. And as he
flew past them, and they past him, he saw systems
rise after systems, and suns upon suns, whose light
had never yet reached the eyes of Man. And still,
as he looked before him, the stars lay thick as sands
in the blue sea of the Heavens; while, as he travelled
140 THE GOOD GENIUS
on, that which in the distance appeared only one
brilliant mass of confusion, separated as he advanced,
into new worlds, threading with wondrous order the
glittering maze, and spinning in their lightning
course, until the air vibrated again, and the Universe
was melodious with the hum of their motion.
Suddenly Silvio was on the earth again, with the
fairy Bee at his side. Then, waving her wand, she
showed him a little universe in every atom — a busy
world in every drop; and how each grain of the
Earth was itself a globe teeming with life, and
peopled with a minnikin race, whose structure was as
wonderful and as perfect as his own.
Then she took him down with her deep into the
Earth, and turning over with her wand the layers of
rocks, as though they were the leaves of a mighty
volume, Silvio read within them the Wondrous Tale
of Creation. And instantly he lived in the time
when Man was yet unborn, and monster beasts
roamed through the giant forests, the undisputed
Monarchs of a desert world.
And again ascending to the surface, the Fairy
opened to him the affinities of things, showing him
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 141
how the air he breathed made metals moulder and
fires burn; and how the black charcoal was the
parent of the glittering diamond; and bow the water
he drank sprang from the burning of gases that he
could neither feel, taste, smell, nor see; and how the
atmosphere around him consisted of the self-same
ingredients as the acid, which scarcely any metal
could withstand.
Then she disclosed to him all the mysteries of
herbs and minerals, showing him their good and
evil powers, and how a little flower, or a few small
crystals, might save or take a life.
And lastly, laying bare to him the mechanism of
his own mysterious frame, she showed Silvio how
the bread he eat became the blood of his arteries
and veins; and how the sanguine stream meandered
through his body like a ruby river, giving life and
vigour to all within its course; and how thin nerves,
like threads, worked his puppet limbs, and running to
his brain, became the conduits of his will and feel-
ings, and the cords which linked his immortal spirit
to the world without.
Bewildered and with his brain
142 THE GOOD GENIUS
aching with the knowledge he had learnt, Silvio
returned home; and telling his Wife that immediate
and important business, connected with his Kingdom,
required his presence in a distant city, he enjoined
her — since she now knew the value of the goat-skin
dress, and had felt how they had suffered from the
loss of it — not to part with it during his absence from
home, to any one on any pretence whatever, unless
he sent a special messenger, with a letter, for it.
And having taken an affectionate farewell of the
Queen, he retired to his chamber, and disguising
himself as a Physician, mounted his mule, and set
out alone on his way to Corallion.
CHAPTER XXIX.
The gates of the city of Corallion were closed and
guarded, so that when Silvio arrived there, the pass-
word was demanded of him. On his telling the guards,
however, that he was a Physician who had come
from a distant part to try his skill upon the King,
whom he had heard had offered a reward to any
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 143
one who could cure him, Silvio was permitted to
enter, and conducted towards the palace.
Observing, on his way thither, that the shops and
bazaars were generally closed, and inquiring the
reason of the guards who accompanied him, they
told him that a drought and famine were raging in
the land, and had brought on a fever which had car-
ried off many of the inhabitants, and that it was from
that fever the King was now suffering, adding, that
they feared it was beyond human power to save
his Majesty, for he had never been the same man
since his daughter had left him.
The old Monarch, tired of his Doctors, who,
disagreeing as to their remedies, had each week put
him under a different treatment, was but too glad to
hear that a foreign Physician had come to offer his
services, and instantly welcomed the Stranger to his
bedside.
It was not long before a change for the better
occurred in Silvio's royal patient; while the King,
finding his strength return, began to gain con-
fidence in his unknown Physician, and would make
him sit by his couch - " "^ he talked to him^
144 THE GOOD GENIUS
and thanked him for the attention he paid to the
sick people in the city, when his presence was
not required at the Palace.
Silvio, taking advantage of the friendship which he
saw King Vejez had conceived for him, told his
Majesty, one day, that he feared his Physician's task
was a hard one; for unless the mind of his patient
was at ease, it was almost u^ess for him to address
his skill to the body. And then amusing the old
Monarch with curious stories of the sympathy be-
tween the two, Silvio said that he could see, from
the restlessness of his Majesty, that his peace was
disturbed by some mental affliction, and begged of
him to make a confidant of his servant; for that,
perhaps, he might be able to console him, even
if he could not assist him, in his distress. Where^
upon the aged King recounted to him the tale of his
Daughter's flight, and how he had sworn never to
see her, or the Sorcerer, who had charmed her from
him, again.
Silvio, finding that Vejez grew angry whenever
he went over the narrative that he now delighted
to repeat, and from which he said he dated all hi^
THAT TURNED EVEETTHING INTO GOLD. 145
afflictions, would dextrouslj lead the King's thoughts
into another channel; by telling him, one day, tales
of wicked oaths which good men delighted to see
broken; on another, how indignation for a time was
a virtue, but, when protracted into revenge, became
a vice ; and, on another, how the Sage forgave an
injury, and the Fool resented it. But the story which
moved the Monarch most was as follows: —
" When God created Man he commanded hi^
Angels to visit him on earth, and guide him in His
ways, so that he might foretaste the bliss of the life
to come. But lustful Man sought after sensual joy«
in preference to those of Heaven, and growing
greedy of worldly fruits, began to quarrel with his
brethren for the possession of th^n; and the Guardian
Angels wept among themselves. But when the
Strong oppressed the Weak, and took from them,
by force, the produce of their toil, Justice rose up
sorrowing, and, leaving Earth, flew back to Heaven.
And when the Weak overcame the Strong with
fEdsehood and deceit, and got from them, by cunning,
what they feared to take by force, Truth rose up
sorrowing, and, leaving F-»i^>» fl«w back to Heaven*
146 THE GOOD GENIUS
And when the Injured went forth to slaj their
Inj urers, and crimsoned the plain with their brothers'
blood, Peace rose up sorrowing, and, leaving Earth,
flew back to Heaven. Thus each bad act scared some
good Angel from the world, until Forgiveness — ^the
most beautiful of all — alone remained behind. And
when she heard Anger and Revenge whisper dark
deeds in men's ears, and counsel them to repeat the
wrong that had been done to them, she rose up sor-
rowing, and said, " I will not leave the Earth. While
my sister Angels were here, I might have rested in
my Father's bosom, for Man needed me not. But
now that they have fled, I will seek to make him
listen to my voice, teUing him that, as he cherishes
Forgiveness here, so will Forgiveness cherish him
hereafter.' So the loveliest child of Heaven re-
mained on Earth; and Peace and Love, repenting,
flew back, and followed her in her train."
Soothed by such simple art, the King soon grew
as calm in mind as he did hale in body, for the one
had been as much afflicted as the other; and at length,
saying that he thought he was strong enough to
leave his chamber on the morrow, he told his Phy-
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 147
sician, to whom he said he felt he owed his life, that
he might then claim his reward, and demand what-
ever boon he wished.
CHAPTER XXX.
And when the morrow came, the old King, leaning
on the arm of his Physician, went into the gardens
of the Palace to bask in the sun, whose warmth he
had not felt for so long a time. And as he lay down
on his couch, and felt the breeze bathing him with
health and vigour, and pouring new life into his
limbs, he looked upon all around him with freshened
eyes, and thanked God for the delight. Then, turn-
ing to Silvio, he said, " But I must not forget you, my
friend, to whom I owe this happiness. Have you
fixed upon the price I am to pay you for it? Do not
scruple to name the sum; whatever it is, I shall think
it but a small equivalent for what I now enjoy."
" Sire!" returned Silvio, "I do not seek wealth
at your hands; but the reward I am about to ask I
fear you u give."
«.►
148 THE GOOD GENIUS
Vejez, offended by the distrust, replied, " Do
kings write their promises on sand? Vejez said
that he would grant whatever he who cured him
might ask. You have cured him — so, ask!"
Silvio, bowing, exclaimed, " Grant me, then,
Sire, a pardon for your Daughter!"
The old Monarch started as he heard the words,
and knit his brows, and bit his lip, as if suffering
from an inward struggle. Then muttering to him-
self, " As Man cherishes Forgiveness here, so will
Forgiveness cherish him hereafter," he lifted up
his arms, and cried aloud, " Bless you for the
lesson you have taught me! It is granted! — it is
granted!" And, bursting into tears, he leant bis head
on his Physician's shoulder, and sobbed aloud.
" And may Heaven, in its charity," returned
Silvio, " bless you, as you in charity have blessed
my Wife and me, my royal Father!"
The Monarch suddenly ceased sobbing, and draw-
ing himself up, looked intently in Silvio's face, as if
doubting what he had heard. And when he dis-
covered that his Physician was really the same as he
who had stolen his child away from him, wondering
THAT TURNED EVEEYTHING INTO GOLD. 149
within himself how he could have been so blind as
not to have before recognised the features which he
now so well remembered, he was about to call for his
guards, when Silvio reminded the King of his pardon.
" Sorcerer!" exclaimed Vejez, " I pardoned mj
child, not you."
" Sorcerer !" echoed Silvio. " Do sorcerers teach
the lessons for which you blessed me but a moment
back?"
" Your devilish acts," said Vejez, " can cajole men
to anything. But you took away my Daughter, and
I will take away your life."
" Yes," answered Silvio, " take it as the reward
for saving your own."
" It was all done by your evil powers," returned
the King.
" Had I meant evil to King Vejez," continued
Silvio, " I should have aggravated, and not relieved
his sufferings; but loving him for his Daughter's
sake, I came in peril, when I might have stayed
behind in safety."
"Peace, devil!" said the old monarch. "I will
hold no more communion your crafty
150 THE GOOD GENIUS
tODgue will charm me from my purpose now, as it
made me break my oath before.*'
" The charm I used," returned Silvio, " to make
King Vejez break his wicked oath, was the charm
of Heaven's truths, such as choke devils when they
utter them; and the sorcery that won his Daughter's
heart was the sorcery of love — ^love fostered by her
Father's sanction. No, King Vejez ! I am no magi*
cian ! The only magic power I own lies in the goat-
skin dress that saved your Kingdom from its enemies
by a fleet."
"It is the garment of the evil one!" rejoined the
King. " It cost me hours of suffering."
" Had you rightly used it," added Silvio, " the
Genius who attends upon it would have yielded you
years of happiness. You know its nature as little
as you know mine. Put us both to the test, and
when you have done so, if you still think evil of us,
why, let my life be the forfeit. Now, hear me,
Vejez! Your country is scourged by a drought
and famine — in seven days Plenty shall reign in the
land."
The King, delighted at the prospect of the
THAT TURNED EVEEYTHING INTO GOLD. 151
plenty Silvio pledged himself to restore, replied,
"And this shall be the condition of our bond. If
you succeed, you have my pardon for yourself and
Amaranth — if you fail, I have your life. In the
meantime, you will be closely guarded."
CHAPTER XXXI.
Vejez, the Silver-haired, on leaving the garden,
sent for one of his Emeers, and gave him strict orders
to see that his Physician did not quit the precincts
of the Palace, but to offer no obstruction to him
while he remained within them; and, above all, the
officer was to hold no converse with him, for the
old King was still afraid that Silvio might work
some spell upon the Emeer, and so either excite his
sympathy, or elude his vigilance.
Silvio soon found that his liberty was restricted,
and though he had no objection to be guarded, still,
he couldn't help thinking that the old King might
have allowed him the range of the city, and per-
mitted him to have seen his patients there. Yet,
imder the circumstances, perhaps his Majesty had
152 THE GOOD GENIUS
carried out the terms with more consideration than
might have been expected. And as it was onlj for
seven days, it was no very great hardship, after all.
It took Silvio half the day to fix upon a party
whom he could with safety send for the magic dress.
None of the guards would do. If Vejez wished
to play false with him, of course they would serve
the King in preference to his Physician. He must
get some trustworthy fellow who never came near
the Palace. And yet it was so much to trust to
any man's honesty. Suppose, by any accident, the
messenger should discover the powers of the magic
suit, it would be foolish to expect that a mere
stranger to him would be able to resist the tempta-
tion. WhB.t could — what sAom/c? he do? Ah! he had
it. That poor patient of his, the Water-carrier — he
had literally saved the man from death, and given him
money, when the miserable wretch expected to have
had to pay some instead. He seemed to be very
grateful — at least, he professed enough. Yes, he
was the very person! and the job would be quite a
godsend to him, for what with the drought and
guarding of the tanks, the poor devil had no means
^f living. If there was truth m Man, that Water-
THAT TURNED EVEEYTHING IKTO GOLD. 153
carrier would do anything to save him. The prospect
of a hundred pieces, too, would so bewilder the
fellow, that he would think of nothing else. And
yet — no. Such a large sum would only lead him
to fancy that what he brought was of great value.
So the best plan would be to promise him ten, and
give him the hundred pieces when he returned with
the dress, all safe.
Deciding on this course, Silvio sent for the chosen
messenger, and sat down to write his letter to his
Queen Amaranth, in which, fearing to tell her of
his perilous situation, he merely said that he stood
in need of his goat-skin dress; and though the bearer
was to be trusted, still, it would be prudent in no
way to hint at its magic power, but to give it to him
in a common box, as if it were a thing of no value,
and that her truant Husband would be back with her
in a few days.
When the Water-carrier arrived, Silvio, deter-
mining to sound the depth of the poor fellow's gra-
titude, said to him, ^' A little while ago, my man,
you told me I had saved your life, and prayed
Heaven that you might have it in your power at
some future time to make me a Te\.\Kcii. ^Y»si»^ *'*"
154 TUE GOOD GENIUS
has arrived, and if you will, you can now repay
the obligation by saving mine. What say you,
friend?"
The Water-carrier, delighted, thanked Silvio for
thinking of him; adding, that he would gladly do
anything to serve him. The way he had been
treated by him would have made a dog love him.
Silvio was so pleased with the man's blunt grati-
tude, that he felt inclined to give him the hundred
pieces at once, instead of the ten. But, convinced
of the imprudence of such a course, he said he
wished the good man to go with a letter to the City
of the Diamond Waters, and bring back a small box;
and when he returned, he should have ten pieces of
gold for his trouble. " Will you be satisfied with
that, my friend?" inquired Silvio.
"No, I shan't!" replied the Water-carrier. "I
a'n't going to do it for that, nor anything like it, I
can tell you! Come, now! fair's fair! You see,
Mr. Doctor, when you saved my life, you would
take nothing for the job. So I intend to be quits
with you, and wont agree now to save yours on any
other terms."
THAT TURNED EVEEYTHING INTO GOLD. 155
Silvio smiled, and soon convinced his friend that,
great as might be his wish to serve him, he would
never be able to do it unless he took some money
just to pay his expenses on the road, and at last
prevailed on him to accept five pieces of gold; adding
that he and the Water-carrier would argue the point
of further reward when he returned.
Then it suddenly struck Silvio, that if he did
not tell the Water-carrier what was in the box, he
might grow curious about its contents, especially
as he had given him to understand that the posses-
sion of it was a matter of life and death to him.
Accordingly Silvio said that he had fallen under the
King's displeasure, and was at present a prisoner in
the Palace, and he feared old Vejez meant no good
to him. So he wanted the box he'd spoken to the
Water-carrier about, for there was a peasant's dress
— a suit of goat-skin — in it which would enable him
to elude the vigilance of the guards, and escape
from the power of the King.
" Lord bless you I'* returned the Water-carrier,
" if that's all you want it for, I can very easily get
you one in the clothes bazaar here, which your own
166 THE GOOD GENIUS
Mother wouldn't know you in, without going all
that way for it."
Silvio replied, that the dress he wished him to
fetch was not only a disguise, but so prepared that
it was as good as a coat of mail to the wearer, and
would keep off anything; and that it had served him
when he had been in the greatest danger once or
twice before.
On the Water-carrier assuring him that " if that
was the case, they had better have it as soon as
possible," he proceeded to instruct him with all the
particulars of his errand, and concluded by telling
him that he was to take that letter to Queen Ama-
ranth, and she would give him the goat-skin dress
in the box, as desired.
" Queen Amaranth give me the goat-skin dress
in the box!" said the Water-carrier, half musing,
to himself. "You'll excuse me, sir! but it strikes
me it isn't quite natural for Queens to take care of
Doctors' clothes. My wife takes care of mine."
" I understand you," said Silvio. " You believe
your friend, the Doctor, to be the King in disguise.
Well, as I have trusted you thus far, I do not fear
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 1 57
confiding to you that I am the King of the City of
the Diamond "Waters; and, remember, that my life
is in your hands. So be you prompt and silent,
and Silvio, restored to his kingdom, will not forget
to be generous and grateful. And mind, above
all, you do not alarm my Queen, by l/etting drop even
so much as a hint as to my present danger."
The "Water-carrier took his leave with assurances
of fidelity, and Silvio returned to the gardens,
and amused himself by picturing the delight and
astonishment of old Vejez when he found that he
was not quite so bad a fellow as he took him for;
and how he would stare when he saw " the devil's
garment," as he called it, save the people of Coral-
lion from perishing with thirst and hunger; and
though his little Queen might be alarmed at his
lengthened absence, still how she would bless him
when she knew the peril he had undergone to get
the pardon of her Father. Well, thank Heaven! he
now saw the end of all his troubles.
Thus Silvio whiled away the first and second
day, anxiously looking forward to the third, when he
was to realise all his dreams. And when the third
158 THE GOOD GENIUS
came, he passed the whole day in walking restlessly
up and down the court-yard, near the palace gates,
and watching each person as he entered. But the
Water-carrier could hardly have been expected to
have got back before the fourth;
The fourth hje passed in the same manner as the
third, wondering what could have happened to delay
his trusty messenger. Perhaps, in his haste, the
fellow had overridden the mule he had given him,
and she had knocked up on the road. And if the
poor man had to walk it, why, it was plain that he
couldn't well get back before to-morrow.
On the morrow Silvio's hopes were slightly tinged
with fears, and he reproached himself with his folly
for not having seen the Water-carrier safe through
the gates of the palace; for there was no telling
that the guards had not got hold of the poor devil,
and tampered with him. And yet — no. That could
never be. He was a brute to suspect so fine a
fellow. How was it possible to bribe a man who
would not even take money, when, if he had wanted
it, he might have driven his own bargain?
It was painful to observe the irritability of poor
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 159
Silvio on the sixth day. He was still at the gates,
walking backwards and forwards, in short and hurried
paces — now biting his nails and tearing bits of flesh
from his fingers — then worrying a piece of string,
and breaking small sticks into as many pieces as he
could — and then tying and untying his sash round
his waist, over and over again — for every muscle
in his frame itched to be doing something. And he
gave snappish answers to any one who spoke to him,
and was tetchy and peevish as a child; while all
the day he kept muttering short sentences to him-
self. At one time he couldn't get over the fact of
that Water-carrier's refusing to take any money.
It was out of all nature. The man was starving, he
knew. Again, the fellow professed a deal too much
to please him. He never did like men who were
always talking of their gratitude. At another
time he was satisfied that he should find the man
right at heart after all. He dared say, now, he was
stopping guzzling away at the palace* And it was
but natural — for the poor wretch hadn't lately had
much chance of getting his fill at home. Suddenly
Silvio stopped short in his walk, and clasped his
160 THE GOOD GENIUS
hands together, for it struck him that he hadn't told
the Water-carrier that he must have the dress
within seven dajs from the time of his leaving, and
the fellow, doubtless, had been kept and feasted
at the Palace by Amaranth. Pshaw! it was absurd to
think of it. He'd told the man that it was a matter of
life and death with him, and he'd never stay stuffing
himself there whilst his benefactor was in imminent
danger. No! he saw it all — King Vejez had had
the fellow watched and seized, and the letter had
never left Corallion. He was lost — lost! Stay!
He would wait quiet till bed-time, and escape when
all was silent in the Palace.
Accordingly, at midnight, he rose from the bed
on which he had been lying in his clothes, and creep-
ing cautiously to the door, opened it without a creak,
and stepped stealthily into the corridor. Here he
found two guards stationed, who roughly ordered
him back into his room. Watched! What was
to be done now? It was impossible to descend
from the window into the gardens; it would be as
sure death as the scaffold, and there was no nse
risking that while the least hope remained. As
THAT TURNED EYEBTTHING INTO GOLD. 16t
soon as it was light he would despatch another mes-;
senger to Amaranth. Yejez most give him at least
two days' grace before his execution.
But in the morning, finding that he was a pri-
soner to his chamber, and forbidden to hold commu'^
nion with any one from without, Silvio wrote and
despatched a letter to the King, by one of the guards^
complaining of his imprisonment before the seven
days had elapsed, and stating that his messenger — >
for some reason which might be best known to
Yejez himself — ^had deceived him, and demanding
in fairness to be furnished with another.
The guard brought back word that his Majesty
would forward a reply in the evening. Ha! ha!
Then all would yet be right! He knew that his.
letter must rouse the King to a sense of justice.
At noon Silvio was surprised to see the King's
treasurer enter his chamber, followed by a troop of
slaves, some of whom carried water jars, others
baskets and sacks, and others dishes.
. On Silvio's demanding to know why his privacy
was thus intruded upon, the treasurer informed hini
that the King had sent his se '*< <i little of the.
162 THE GOOD OBNIUff
food and drink which his Physician had promised
to supply the people of Corallion with on that day.
Hastily telling the treasurer that he awaited the
King's reply to his letter, Silvio commanded them
to depart.
In a short time, however, the slaves returned to
make ready for the prisoner's afternoon meaL To
his astonishment they placed on the table large
dishes, with covers of gold, and silver ewers. What
could the feast mean? Had Vejez relented? Per-
haps by his cunning he had again become possessed
of the magic dress.
On raising the covers, the dishes contained nothing
but a small scroll, on which was written, " In seven
DAYS Plenty shall reign in the land."
Maddened with the King's spite, Silvio now
feared that he had little hope for mercy at his
hands. The only chance left him was the Water-
carrier, who he could hardly believe would have
betrayed him, after all he had done for the man.
Besides, there was the King's answer to his letter
still to come, Vejez could not^ in common justice,
refuse to grant him the little grace he had asked.
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 163
Had he not saved the old King's life, and could the
old King, in return, be so greedy to have his?
Immediatelj after sunset a messenger entered
Silvio's chamber, and, bowing, informed him that
his Majesty King Yejez had consulted with his
council, and having taken into consideration the
prisoner's request to be furnished with another mes-
senger, had graciously decided on supplying him
with a slave, who would do what was required, and
attend upon him in three days' time. And as a
pledge of his truth the King had sent the letter
then presented.
On tearing open the cover, Silvio read — his Death
Warrant.
CHAPTER XXXII.
It was just a month since Silvio had left Amaranth,
and not a line had she received to tell her where or
how he was. What could be the cause of his siknco?
It could not be neglect. No. Besides, the business
that took him from home must have required his
personal attention, or he would never have left her;
164 THE GOOD GENIUS
and she knew it was very important, for he wouldn't
stay even to tell her the nature of it. Yet it was
strange that she had never heard from him. But
she was certain he could not he in danger, or he
would have sent for the magic dress. He had never
heen ahsent so long hefore, and his kindness had so
spoilt her, that she feared it had made her selfish and
loth to part with him. Azuria, too, was always re-
minding her of his absence; and she had told the
little thing so often that her father would be back
to-morrow, that the child scarcely believed her now.
Moreover, Silvio had gone at such an awkward time;
just as they were settling by what means they could
regain her royal father's love. But, thank goodness!
he could not be long away now
The Queen's musings were interrupted by the
entrance of an attendant, who informed her that a
messenger from King Silvio requested to speak with
her immediately, and alone.
It was the Water-carrier, who told the Queen that
he came from Corallion with a message from the
King, and that he wanted a goat-skin dress in a
common box to take \)ack to \iim.
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 165
Silvio at Corallion, and wanting the magic dress!
What can it mean? thought Amaranth. And then
she asked the Water-carrier whether he had brought
any letter.
"No, your Majesty," he replied; " I haVt ex-
actly brought a letter, because — ^you understand, he
— that is, when I saw him, eight days ago — ^he says
to me — Now, my good man, I wish you to take this
— that is, I should say — I want you to go for me, as
quick as you can, to the City of the Diamond
Waters."
" As quick as you can I" interrupted the Queen,
" and he told you this eight days ago! Why, it is not
a twenty-four hours' journey from here to Corallion!"
" No, your Majesty,** answered the messenger,
" it can't be much farther off than that."
" And so," haughtily returned the Queen, **you
take eight days, sirrah, to do what might have been
done in one, had your speed been such as King Silvio
commanded you to use!''
" Why, your gracious Majesty," replied the Water-
carrier, " I own I might have come a trifle o^^sJsjst^
certainly; »o filrou^ «ia \ \j>sfc^ \» ^'^^'^^
166 THE GOOD GENIUS
you see, I ha*n*t been very well lately — so if youl
have the goodness to overlook it, and give me the
dress, I'll promise to make up for loss of time on my
road back."
" Had the King," answered Amaranth, " sent for
the dress, sir, he would have given you a letter,
and without it your attempt to obtain it is useless.
So you can retire."
" Oh, your Majesty," exclaimed the Water-carrier,
" don't say so! I could never have the heart to go
back to the King without taking him what he sent me
for. If you think I'm deceiving you, let any one else
you like take it. Only do let him have it — now, doP^
" Are my guards to force you from my presence,
sirrah?" inquired the Queen.
" Your gracious Majesty,'' cried the Water-car-
rier, falling on his knees, "pray do listen to me!
He was the only person that came nigh me when
I was sick and dying ; he saved my life, and
kept me from starving afterwards — bless him for it!
— when work wasn't to be had — I'm a water-carrier
by trade, your Majesty — and is it likely that, after
all that, I should go and deceive him or any one
THAT TURNED EVEBTTHINO INTO GOLD. 167
belonging to him? No, your Majesty, I wouldn't—
on my life and soul I wouldn't!"
" If you were not deceiving me, you would have
brought a letter," repeated the Queen, firmly.
** You're very right," continued the Water-car-
rier. " I am deceiving you. He did give me a letter;
and I'll tell your Majesty everything about it. You
see, the good King would make me take five pieces^
and that's what's done it all. The harvest has failed
us this year, you know, your Majesty, and bread's
very high — two silver pieces a loaf — so, what with
the drought, we water-carriers have had a hard time
of it. Well, as I was saying, when the King gave
me the five pieces of gold, the first thing I did was to
go and get a good dinner — the last time I tasted meat^
your Majesty, was about three months before I wa»
taken bad-- so I had a dish of lamb fried with cheese,
and after dinner I had some date-wine — half a small
jar full I think it was — and whether it was owing to
my illness or not — ^for I suffered dreadful, to be sure
— the King himself thought I should never have got
over it — or whether it was that the wine was bad,
your Majesty "
168 THE GOOD GENIUS
" Tut! tut!" interrupted the Queen, "to the letter,
sir!— the letter!"
"Yes, your gracious Majesty," continued the
Water-carrier, " yes, I'm coming to that. Well, as
I was saying, I had some date-wine, and it didn''t
agree with me somehow; and I didn't exactly
know what I was doing of; for when I came to
myself I could find the letter nowhere, and I
looked everywhere for it too, and asked everyhody
in the place if they'd come across such a thing — but
all to no good. Then I couldn't abide the idea of
going back to the good King, after all his kindness
to me, and telling him that I'd gone getting tipsy
with the money he'd given me, instead of setting
about his business, as I should have done, if I'd been
a man. So I kept hunting everywhere I could think
of for it, till the better part of a week was gone —
for I can't think I could hardly have been so beside
myself as to have lighted my pipe with it. And
then I got so dreadful downhearted-like, I thought
I'd run away to other parts, and never come back
this way again. But, on the road, something told
me I wasn't doing exactly right. So I thought I'd
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 169
come on and see you, your Majesty, and tell you
all about it; for I couldn't bear to desert my best
friend in a matter that I knew was life and death
to him."
" Life and death to him !" cried Amaranth.
" Yes, it's out now, your Majesty," replied the
Water-carrier, " though he told me I wasn't to drop
a word of it to you."
So as soon as the trembling Queen had gathered
from him all he knew and had heard of Silvio's
connexion with Vejez, the Silver-haired, she dis-
missed the Water-carrier, and, distracted with doubt,
passed the night in devising all kinds of plans for
her husband's liberation. First, she would send an
army, and demand that he should be set free. — But
it would be against her Father! Yet, if she did not,
her Husband must die. No! some other means still
must be found, for she could not forget the Daughter
in the Wife. She would go herself — ^with her child
— and they would both kneel at the old man's feet till
he relented. And yet, gentle as he had always been
to her, still he was so decided in all he did, that she
felt she might as well try to move a rock. Why did
170 THB GOOD GBNIU8
Silvio ever leave her? — ^Why did he not tell hef
whither he was going? — ^Why not have taken her
with him? But after all, perhaps, the messenger
was only a clever trickster, wlio, having heard of the
magic power of the dress, had sought, in Silvio's
absence, to dupe her out of it. He brought no
letter, and told an incoherent tale, that on the face of
it was false. However, to make all sure, she would
go and learn the truth from the Bee, and if there
was need of it, why, the little Fairy would help her.
With her face blanched, and her eyes reddened
by weeping, and faint from want of rest, Amaranth,
as soon as it was light, went with the goat-skin
suit to seek the good Genius; for her anxiety to
consult the Bee, coupled with the dread of missing
her, made the Queen's couch a place of torment
rather than repose. So, putting on the magic
dress, she waited the rising of the sun; and, re-
vived by the morning air, her thoughts took a more
sanguine turn. Even if the man's tale were true,
she knew her Father too well to believe that he
would stain his hands with the blood of his Daugh-
THAT TURNED EVERTTHINO INTO GOLD. 171
ter's Husband. Though he might be resolute, still
he was just and kind. Besides, the messenger had
told her that Silvio had saved her Father's life, and
it was unnatural to suppose that he would return it
by putting Silvio to death. Then, again, the old
King delighted to threaten, but when it came to the
last moment, he always wanted the heart to exe-
cute. Moreover, the recollection of the love he had
once borne her would be sufficient to stay his hand,
for he would know that the petted girl, who, for
her Lover, had risked a Father's curse, would
perish by the same blow that killed her Husband,
But, even though the messenger's story might be
made up, still it was clear that Silvio was in
trouble, or he would either have written to her, or
returned Ions: since. And he was alone in his
misery, with no one near to console him with
even one kind word. Oh, that she could speak to
him!
And she started as she heard the following charm
float through the air, and knew that the Bee had
listened to her wish: —
172 THE GOOD OKNIUS
^ Though they breathe not a word.
Let their voices be heard
At a distance no voice could reach!
And swiftly as Thought
Let the words be brought!
And the Lightning endowed with Speeeh!
Though Seas roll between.
And Lands intervene,
Let the Absent be close at hand !
Make the Eye to hear,
Let Space disappear.
And Time be compelled to stand !"
As the Queen looked up, she saw suspended aboYe
her, a series of long metallic threads, which ran
through the air till they were lost in the distance.
" You wished to speak with your husband," said
the little Bee, flying towards Amaranth. ^^ I shall
be happy, my love, to convey any message you please
to him. And as I knew your business was imme-
diate and important, I thought the best plan, you
see, would be to send it by the lightning for you, so
that you might receive an answer, my dear, by the
next flash. What shall I say to him for you, eh?"
" Ask him if he needs the magic dress," eagerly
cried the Princess.
" It is done I" said the Bee.
THAT TURNED EVERYTmNO INTO GOLD. 173
And instantly the words went tearing through
the atmosphere on the wings of the liglitning mes-
senger. And swift as a sunbeam, the answer re*
turned.
The Bee looked at the ready reply, and returned
to the Queen.
** What says he?" Amaranth anxiously exclaimed.
" Whiat I am half frightened to tell you, sweet
one," answered the Bee, " unless you promise me to
bear up against it. For it is bad— very bad news,
my dear, and requires all your best energies. So you
wont give way now — ^will you — if I tell it you?"
"No! tell me, tell me! I'm prepared for the
worst," earnestly cried the Queen. " I see the
messenger's story was true. Can the magic dress
save him?"
" He says," continued the Bee, " it is now too
late! — ^In a quarter of an hour he "
"Dies!" shrieked the Queen — "dies! and for
my sake! Oh! my poor — poor murdered Silvio!**
And she burst into a torrent of tears.
"Come — come!" said the Bee, "don't give way
80 — there's a dear! Cheer up! and trust tci \a&*
174 THE GOOD GENIUS
Now, tell me, what shall I do? Fm sure I'd do
anything to serve you. I've saved many a life
before this, so don't go breaking your little heart
in this way, but say what you'd wish to have done."
'* Take me to him ! take me to him ! whilst there is
yet time! Oh! take me to him!" sobbed Amaranth,
faUing on her knees.
" Yes, to be sure we will, my poor little lady!"
returned the Bee, compassionately. " Only we
mustn't go crying out our pretty eyes like this, or
we shan't be fit for anything. And there's plenty
for us to do, goodness knows! Besides, Folly cries,
you know, whilst Wisdom tries. And then, soaring
into the air, she hummed this spell —
" Thon, who art bom of Water, and dost on Fire feed —
Whose breath's the burning Cloud — whose speed is the
Meteor 8 speed,
Whose power never tires — whose spirit never dies —
Arise ! thou mighty Dragon ! thou monster Steed, arise !"
As the last words of the spell died in the air,
the pool close by began to boil and bubble up
madly, as if some monster were writhing in its
waters, while dense white clouds of vapour rose
from its surface, and veiled all from the view. And
THAT TURNED EVBRTTHING INTO GOLD. 175
when the breeze had cleared awaj the mist, a mighty
green Dragon stood near the fairj Bee, screaming
and snorting as if in furj, and whitening the air
with its thick breath, whilst its long jointed tail
stretched far along the plains.
Having summoned Amaranth to her seat, the
Fairj mounted the giant Beast, and waving her '
wand — with a wild shriek, it darted forward like
the wind in a storm, each moment increasing in its
speed, and panting quicker and quicker, as if gasping
for breath with its exertion; while, to the timid
Queen, the whole earth appeared to be flying past
them, and the fields on either side to be changed
into a green river, whose verdant stream seemed to
be flowing rapidly by. And as they kept whirling
along in their hurricane career, herd after herd of
cattle rushed away in wild afli'ight, scared by the
screams of the flying monster. Now the Dragon
Steed went rattling over a broad river, and now
burrowing with irresistible force under a high
mountain, and shrieking even more shrilly than
before, and scattering fire arouiLd ^xoxsi \\& \tfs^Nx^^
the red sparks of whicli were t\ie oxX^^ xJsjm^j^^
176 THE GOOD GENIUS
in the subterranean blackness. Suddenly they were
in the open fields again, and the white light blinded
them. Then the unearthly beast carried them flying
through the air, over the valley, with its little vil-
lage beneath looking up at them with gaping wonder.
And so they went screaming, and panting, and tear-
' ing along, but rapid as was their flight, still, to the
anxious Queen, every mile seemed a league, and
every minute an hour; for she feared lest she should
reach Corallion only to find her Husband murdered
by her Fathei*.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
It was the morning of the execution of Silvio, the
Sorcerer, and as he rose from his couch of straw,
and saw the dawning light of day streaming in
through the small window of his dungeon, he felt as
if it were the misty finger of Fate pointing at him,
and marking him out for an ignominious death.
And yet, now that he knew all hope was gone, he
was calmer than when distracted with the worry of
suspense.
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 177
He tried to persuade himself that Death would
onlj be a happy release, though in his heart he
fondly clung to life; for he had formed such plans for
the rearing of his child, and which were to have
made her so perfect a being that it was hard, just as
she was getting old enough to understand his coun-
sels, and he could discover the graces of her mind
budding into beauty beneath his guidance, to be
obliged to leave his little cherished plant to be fos-
tered by less gentle hands, who, wanting a Fathered
love, could hardly be expected to render a Father's
care. Poor Amaranth, too! After all they had
suffered together, to be torn thus savagely from
her, just as joy and peace were dawning on them!
— tp be forced to leave her before he had taught
her the true use of authority, and with a self-willed
people around her, who, perhaps, missing the com-
forts he had used them to, might again rise against
their Sovereign. But, thank Heaven! she had the
magic suit, and knew its value.
Then he wondered who it was that woke him, by
speaking to him about the dress. Surely, he must have
dreamt it! It could not havf '«*-<(»rcss3^v
178 THE GOOD GENIUS
No! that scoundrel would never have dared to ap-
proach him ! A villain ! after all he had done for him,
to go and sell — as it was clear he had — the life of his
very preserver, for a few pieces of gold. An ingrate !
Curses on the wretch! As a dying man, he prayed
Heaven that the fellow and all his progeny might —
Yet, was this practising the forgiveness he had
preached to Vejez? No! So he would do to the
Water-carrier as he would that Vejez had done unto
Ids son — and die in peace and charity with all the
world.
Silvio's musings were interrupted by the entrance
of a train of courtiers, who, dressed in their robes, as
if the day were one of public rejoicing, kissed the
ground before him, and humbly begged that the
Restorer of Plenty would deign to allow them to re-
lieve him of his fetters.
Wondering at the meaning of their obsequious
greetings, Silvio again had a glimmering of hope.
Either Vejez had relented, or the dress had come
to hand! And he felt assured that some strange
accident had occurred to stay the vengeance of
the old King, when he heard the hautboys, drumSy
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 179
and cymbals without burst forth into a strain of
triumph.
It was like a holiday throughout Corallion; for
all the shops were closed, and the people, forgetting
their hunger in the excitement of the execution,
had flocked out in crowds to see the procession of
the Sorcerer on his way to the outskirts of the city,
where he was to be burnt at sunrise.
And the stem Vejez was determined to carry his
revenge to the last, for the procession was more like
one of feasting than of death.
First, there were bands of music playing to cho-
risters who chanted songs of victory; and the burden
of each verse was, " In seven days Plenty shall
REIGN IN THE LAND."
Then came dancing girls, dressed as peasants,
and each carrying on her head an empty fruit basket;
while behind, were two slaves bearing a large banner,
on which was written, " In seven days Plenty
SHALL REIGN IN THE LAND."
After these, were men dressed as reapers, and
dancing as at a harvest feast, while some of them
carried bundles of mildewed straw, and others ru&t^
ia2
180 THB GOOD GENIUS
sickles; and these again were followed bj two
slaves bearing a large banner, on which, too, was
written, " In seven days Plenty shall beign in
THE LAND."
Then appeared a troop of men dressed as Water-
carriers, and each bore across his shoulders a dry,
empty skin, while others carried on their heads
large water jars^ turned upside down; and these also
were followed by a banner, on which likewise was
written, " In seven days Plenty shall seign in
THE land."
Succeeding these, came a train of empty waggons,
drawn by lean oxen, and carrying husbandmen,
who rested on their broken winnowing forks, whilst
others walked by their side with empty corn mea-
sures, and unfilled sacks; and, like the others, they,
too, were followed by a banner, on which again was
written, " In seven days Plenty shall reign in
the land."
Then came m^re music, and more choristers, and
girls with empty Cornucopias, dancing round a
glittering car, in which was seated the wretched
Silvio, with his head resting on his bosom, and his
THAT TURNED EVESTTHIN6 INTO GOLD. 181
face hid in his hands; and in front of him stood a
man, all in black, with a mask before his face, and
holding a lighted torch; while at his feet were huge
bundles of reeds, and jars labelled " Naphtha;'* and
on each side, and before and behind the car, were
large banners, on each of which also was written, *'In
SEVEN DATS PLENTY SHALL REIGN IN THE LAND.*' '
Behind rode the* stem old King, attended hj
his courtiers and guards. And so the savage
pageant moved on, while the crowds who lined the
waj, yelled and scoffed at their boasted Deliverer,
until thej arrived at the summit of the hiU, where
stood the stake at which the Sorcerer was to die.
When Silvio was t)ound to it, and the reeds were
piled up to his waist, and the naphtha had been
poured upon them, the courtiers advanced, and
kissing the ground before him, asked him whether
it would please his Mightiness to restore Plenty to
the land. But Silvio only looked up to Heaven in
answer, and muttered an inward prayer. Then a
herald stepped forth and sounded his trumpet, and
the crowd beneath yelled with fury.
And again bowing, they asked the still silent Silvio
182 THE GOOD GENIUS
as before; and again the trumpet blew, and again
the crowd yelled.
And for the third time, the courtiers asked whe-
ther it pleased him to restore Plenty to the land,
when, Silvio remaining silent as at first, the trumpet
sounded for the last time, and the impatient mob
shrieked out, "Fire the reeds! Fire the reeds!*'
Then the executioner marched with his lighted
torch to the pile, and the noisy multitude was
hushed with savage interest. And then all stood
aghast as the following fairy spell was heard in the
air —
" Let barren lands grow rich with grain !
Make fruitful every sterile plain !
Where the parch'd earth's agape with thirst
Forth let a thousand fountains burst!
Away with famine ! with drought away !
Hear ! spirits, hear ! Hear, and obey !"
No sooner had the charm ceased than countless
fountains were seen to spurt up in the plains below,
throwing their muddy waters high into the air; and,
as they fell, the greedy earth around drank them up,
till it could drink no more. Then the streams
spread over all the land, till it became as a sheet
of water; and the fountains, which had grown
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. ] 83
dearer and clearer, subsided into bright bubbling
springs. Soon the water sank into the groimd, and
the plains, which but just now had been scorched
and cracked with the continued heat, then ap-
peared fresh and green with the sprouting produce,
which, rising higher and higher, at length began to
ripen, and the verdant fields to grow yellow with
their heavy crops; and, as the breeze went dancing
over them, they waved to and fro like a sea of gold.
Then the air was rent with the shouts of the
populace in praise of Silvio, their Deliverer, who,
all the time, stood astounded with the magic of the
scene, and puzzling himself as to the means by
which the change had been wrought, while he
wondered whether the Water-carrier could have
become acquainted with the powers of the dress.
But he had little time for conjecture, for the re-
pentant Vejez had thrown himself at his prisoner's
feet, and was suing for the pardon of him whom he
called his injured son.
Silvio raised his royal Father, reminding him of
his Physician's former precept, " That the fool re-
sented an injury, and ' "^'»'^ man forgave one."
184 THJB GOOD GENIUS
And they were locked in each other's arms, whea
Amaranth came hurrying up with the magic dress
in her hand, and fainted at their feet.
As Silvio strove to restore the senses of his
Queen — whom he now knew to have been his pre-
server, the little Bee came humming about him;
and whispering in his ear, she bade him seek her
on the morrow for the last time> and instantly dis-
appeared.
It was not long before the Princess recovered her
consciousness, and found the old King kneeling at
her side, and weeping over her like a child. Then
Father, and Son, and Daughter, embraced, and for-
gave each other; while Silvio and Vejez heaped
thanks upon the noble little Amaranth for having,
by her loving care, saved the one from death and
the other from crime; and she, in her turn, blessed
her Husband ibr all the perils he had undergone to
obtain her Father's forgiveness, and her Father for
forgiving her.
Then, amid the cheers of the happy populace, .
they sat out on their return to the City of Corallion,
attended by the courtiers and guards; while the ban-
THAT TUBNBD EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 185
ners that had formerly accompanied Silvio in jeer,
were now carried beside him in triumph; and the
long train of husbandmen that had preceded him in
mockerj to the stake, remained behind to load their
waggons, and gather in, with gratitude, the Plenty
that now reigned in the land.
Still, amidst all the triumph, the happiness of
Silvio was overcast with melancholy; for he recol-
lected that the good little Genius to whom he owed
everything, had desired him to seek her on the
morrow for the last time ; and, puzzled at the
strangeness of the request, he kept continually ask-
ing himself — ^what could it mean?
CHAPTER XXXIV.
So this was the last time he was to see his Good
Genius, thought Silvio, as he walked towards the
fields. She had been a true friend to him. Not a
wish but she had gratified. She had taught him
how to preserve the lives of others, and had even
186 THE GOOD GENIUS
saved his own; and, despite of her banterings, he
could not help loving the little thing as if she were
a human being.
The sun was up, and he summoned her to appear;
but the Fairy answered not his call.
Again he summoned her, and yet she came not.
What could be the reason? — was he too late? It
was only just^un-rise, and she had often attended
to his appeal at a later hour than that.
So he called on her. a third time, but still no Bee
appeared.
Wondering at the mysterious cause of her ab-
sence, he looked around, and at a little distance from
him beheld a lovely female figure, clad in a flowing
robe, green as the spring, and crowned with a
chaplet of wild flowers; whilst her cheeks were like
ripe peaches, and every feature glowed with health
and joy. In her hand she held a reaping-hook, and
her arm rested on a sheaf of heavy-eared corn. By
her side stood a team of milk-white oxen, yoked to
a plough; and the air around her was fragrant
with the odours of the bean flower and new-made
hay.
Struck with the simple beauty of the Stranger,
Silvio advanced towards her, and bowing, asked
bow one so fair dared venture abroad without a veil.
■■ I came to meet him they call Silvio," answered
the Stranger.
188 THB GOOD GENIUS
" You came to meet me I" Silvio exclaimed, with
astonishment.
"Yes!" she replied; "I am your Fairy friend.
You only knew me as the Bee, but now you see
me in my proper form."
Charmed at her presence, Silvio fell on his knee,
and kissing the hem of her robe, thanked and blessed
her as his Grood Geniui. " And is, then," he cried,
" the first time that I know you as you really
are, doomed to be the last that I am to look upon
you?"
" Even so, Silvio," she answered; "your bustling
race of Ambition is run, so sit you down now in
peace, and make your throne your couch. It is for
you to say whether you are happier as the King than
you were as the Woodman; though, I fear, friend,
you have only learnt to multiply your wants; and if
you questioned your own heart, would find that in a
Palace, you are still as far away from * enough,' as you
were when you fixed its boundary in a cottage. For
riches, Silvio, lie not in the vastness of the means,
but in the restraint of the desires; and the Peasant
THAT TUBNED EYEBTTHINQ INTO GOLD. 189
whose wiints are humbler than his pittance, is richer
than the Monarch whose lusts are greater than his
wealth."
Silvio replied, that all he had sought after, he
had sought for others, not himself.
" Ah," she returned, " like the rest of the world,
you are ever trying to make yourself out an angel
when you are but a poor human being, after alL
Depend upon it, the luxuries of life are so toothsome,
that Man covets them quite as much — if not more
— for his own sake, as he does for those with whom
he shares them."
" Now,*' returned Silvio, " I know you are the
game in spirit as the little Bee, for she would take
me to task as you do."
" Silvio!" she answered, smiling, ''I always spoke
to you as your own heart would have spoken^
had you questioned it as you lay awake at night
with your head on your pillow. And remember, you
would not have smarted had your conscience been
without a sore. Be assured, friend, that men are
greater hypocrites to themselves than they are to
190 THE GOOD GENIUS
the world, and dupe their intellects till they believe
their wolfish passions to be lamb-like principles. And
now, Silvio, I am about to leave you; you have
learnt the folly of indolent luxury; you are rich
and happy, and may now sit down, after all your
troubles, and pass the remainder of your days in
rest and ease. You need my aid no more, though I
would still live in your memory."
Silvio, weeping, vowed eternal gratitude. But as
he had only known her as the Bee, he begged
of her, before leaving him, to tell him to which of
the heavenly Spirits he owed all his welfare.
" I am the Spirit," she replied, " that attends on
honest desires."
" But, your name — your name?" he exclaimed.
" What ! can't you guess it ?" she answered.
" Have I brought up gold from the depths of the
earth — changed rocks into palaces — forests into
fleets — reared cities in the wilderness — laid bare the
wondrous mechanism of the Universe — and made
even the Lightning speak ; have I raised steeds out
of fire and water — triumphed over the adverse sea-
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. !&!
sons — made barren plains wave with corn — and con-
jured up water from the sandy desert ; — have I done
all this, and yet you cannot guess my name?"
" I cannot," said Silvio; "but still — ^let me see —
you are the beautiful child of Good Fortune."
"No!" answered the Spirit — "this shaU tell you
who I am. Listen: —
" When Man had been ordained to earn his bread
by the sweat of his brow, and the Angels, looking
down from Heaven, saw him suffering from want and
pain, they wondered among themselves, and asked of
one another, 'How is it that the Compassionate
and the Merciful hath sent Pain into the world?
Can Evil spring from the source of All-Good? It
is Satan, and not our Father, who hath done this !'
Then the white-winged Gabriel, the chief of all the
heavenly host, rose up and said — * Wonder not that
Pain is sent on earth, for He who willed it is as
Wise as Merciful, and had He made Men's wants to
be as pleasures to them, they would have sought not
food, but sat and starved with joy. But He, in His
lavish bounty, hath given not only Pleasure, to lead
192 THE GOOD GENIUS
them to that which is good, bat also Pain, to turn
them from that which is evil. And, further, so
wondrous is His mercy, he hath vouchsafed unto
them two Spirits, the one beautiful, to make them
love the labour bj which they are to thrive, and
the other hateful, to make them loathe the sloth by
which they are to starve; and in the train of the first
He hath sent Plenty, Health, and Joy; and in the
train of the second. Want, Sickness, and Grief.'
And when the Spirits came on earth, men christened
the one Industry, and the other Indolence.
" And now, Silvio," she asked, " can you guess
who I am?"
" I can!" he cried; "you are the blessed Spirit of
patient Industry."
It was to awaken the great or little reader to a
sense of the marvels that are continually being
worked about him that this Fairy Tale was originally
designed; and since children of ail ages will read
THAT TURNED EVERYTHING INTO GOLD. 193
Fairy Tales, we have sought to make the food
wholesome by teaching them, instead of idly sigh-
ing for Fortunio's magic purse, to feel that every
suit they have may, at their own will, be turned
into Silvio's magic dress.
And, since the feelings of Surprise and Wonder
seem to have been given to us only to excite a more
than ordinary interest in the objects that elicit them,
and so to make us desire to become better acquainted
with the nature of that which they have so vividly
impressed upon our minds, we have endeavoured to
apply these feelings to the inculcation Gi Industry,
and, by pointing out the wonders it can work, to give
it a greater charm to the reader, so that it may
fasten itself upon his mind and become a principle
of his life.
Pursuing this plan, it is the intention of the
Authors to follow up this little book with others of
a similar character, designed to exemplify the Magic
of the different Virtues; which magic will be made,
as in this, to consist in the shortening of the
time ordinarily required for the working out of the
194 THE OOOD HBNIDS.
resolts ; and bo, by removiiig the intennedute events,
and bringing the effects into close ojnnezion with
their csosea, to give a fairy character to that whidi
is of every day occurrence.
^ T. C. GavilJ, FrinUr, i, Chandoi
street, Covcnt-KSTdi^ii
''x.,i
■» .
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;efeeifthisbookisnot
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below. non-receipt of overdue
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